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el departamento infuses mountainous hues into texturized optical boutique in madrid

El Departamento unveils new PJ Lobster boutique in Madrid

Valencia-based architecture practice El Departamento has crafted a contemporary optical boutique for the PJ Lobster brand in Madrid, Spain. Drawing from the character of the project location, which combines both sophistication and vibrancy, the retail interior incorporates texturized minimalism, rough materiality, organic forms, and stainless steel elements throughout its design. The color palette is inspired by the hues of the Madrid mountains, infusing a natural essence into the design which is otherwise described as ‘high-tech’.

the exterior of the new PJ Lobster boutique in Madrid | all images courtesy of Miguel Fernández-Galiano

PJ Lobster’s Madrid store Unveils a Design Continuum

The new PJ Lobster boutique in Madrid continues the design exploration initiated in the previous project located in Barcelona (see designboom’s previous coverage here), focusing on color, organic forms, and different textures as common design elements.

Spanning 42 m2, with an additional operational basement, the structure redefines traditional storefront concepts with an expansive, unobtrusive street-facing facade. The interior boasts ornamental structures, including wooden beams and cast-iron columns, maintaining an impressive free height of over 4 meters. El Departamento (find more here) preserved the original cast-iron pillars on the facade, encasing them in a sleek stainless-steel skin that transforms their appearance into two seamless cylinders. A striking glass facade, precisely centered between the two pillars, establishes a clear boundary, inviting patrons to experience the seamless transition between the external environment and the meticulously crafted interior space.

the entrance of the store features reflective stainless steel elements

El Departamento’s Fusion of Textured Minimalism & Raw Precision

In their latest spatial exploration for this new optical boutique, El Departamento blends textured minimalism and raw precision. Meticulous attention to detail is evident as the color-blocked sales area dynamically contrasts with a neutral floor, yet harmonizes with stainless-steel furniture, accentuating the high-tech ambiance of the space.

The design of the shop is characterized by rough materiality, as a prominent irregular plaster finish emerges. The color palette, dominated by dark garnet and aubergine hues, pays homage to the traditional color of Madrid’s exposed brick. This color, derived from the various clays of the central plateau, harks back to the architectural materials of Madrid’s late 19th-century aesthetics. ‘This tribute to reddish tones, transformed into garnet, evokes the hues that tint the fields of Madrid’s mountain range in autumnal twilights,’ the design team shares.

the retail interior incorporates rough materiality, organic forms, and stainless steel elements

the color palette of the project is inspired by the hues of the Madrid mountains

an irregular plaster finish emerges within the interior

the interior boasts ornamental structures, including wooden beams and cast-iron columns

the store is dominated by dark garnet and aubergine hues

the boutique s characterized by a high-tech ambiance

project info:

name: PJ Lobster Restyling
architects: El Departamento | @eldepartamento.estudio
design team: Alberto Eltini & Marina Martín

location: 2 Fernando VI Street, Madrid, Spain
area: 42 sqm
photography: Miguel Fernández-Galiano

myrto katsikopoulou I designboom

dec 25, 2023

Reference

Interior Design

Glass blocks divide Eye Eye optical store by Best Practice Architecture

By Zarkon Group,01/04/2023

Local studio Best Practice Architecture has used punchy colours, glass bricks and dichroic glass inside an optometry store in Seattle’s Leschi neighbourhood.

For Eye Eye‘s second location, founder Will Pentecost got back in touch with Best Practice Architecture, which had completed the brand’s first brick-and-mortar store back in 2015.

Eye Eye retail space with cutout ceiling to add extra height — Cutouts in the low ceiling add extra height to the Eye Eye retail space

Unlike the inaugural space, the new store does not benefit from tall ceilings and a strong street presence.

So the architects had to get creative to turn the “drab” commercial building into a fun and inviting environment.

Glass block partitions divide the store — Glass block partitions are angled to create a more dynamic space

“The client gave Best Practice free range to transform the interior with only three requests: include glass blocks, use lit signage, and incorporate design language from the original location without being too repetitive,” said the studio.

The retail area is situated at the front of the space, facing the street through large windows, while the examination rooms and staff facilities can be found at the back.

Glasses displayed on shelves with the glass block partitions — Niches in the partitions contain mirrors and product displays

The specified glass blocks are used to divide the store, forming angled walls with openings that feature mirrors, product displays and furniture that spans both sides.

“Carefully placed to create an interesting circulation flow and contrast with the orthogonal layout, the clever design provides both form and function, welcoming filtered daylight deep into the space while accommodating basic retail needs,” said Best Practice.

Purple banquette beneath illuminated graphic of concentric arcs — A purple banquette is tucked in a corner for casual consultations

Cutouts in the low ceiling add extra height and expose ductwork that is painted purple – a hue that’s repeated in the upholstery of a banquette tucked in the corner for consultations.

More purple covers the walls in the examination reception area, which is separated from the store by a screen of dichroic glass that changes colour depending on the angle from which it’s viewed.

The glass blocks appear again as a partition between the clinic reception and the exam rooms behind, which are outfitted with custom medical equipment and wood cabinetry.

Signage that echoes the original Eye Eye branding is also installed in the retail space, including a concentric circle that echoes vintage eye tests and two large “E” letterforms.

Dichroic glass partition — A dichroic glass screen separates the retail space from the examination area

“With this new space, Best Practice brings Eye Eye’s vision to life once again through an exploration of materiality, the patient experience, and a fresh take on a commercial space,” said the studio. “It’s an eye care clinic reimagined.”

Founded in 2011 by Ian Butcher, Best Practice Architecture has completed a variety of projects in and around its home city of Seattle.

Exam room at Eye Eye — Exam rooms are outfitted with custom medical equipment and wood cabinetry

These range from updating a historic bungalow and transforming a storage shed into backyard studio, to designing a men’s footwear store.

The photography is by Rafael Soldi.

Project credits:

Architect: Best Practice Architecture
Design team: partner in charge: Kailin Gregga; partner/principal architect: Ian Butcher; lead designer/project architect: Sarah Smith
Contractor: Metis Construction
Graphics and branding: Drew Hamlet
Custom signage: Western Neon
Custom casework: Creoworks

Reference

Architecture

yuji tanabe completes capsule toy shop in japan with mirror optical illusion

By Zarkon Group,04/10/2022

‘ONARI capsule’ toy shop BY Yuji tanabe ARCHITECTS

Located on the Onari shopping street in Kamakura, Japan, the ‘Onari Capsule’ by Yuji Tanabe Architects was once an optics shop but has now transformed into a fun capsule toy store. With 65 capsule toy machines and two mirrors facing each other inside the compact space, the Japanese architect aimed to make the interior look as wide as possible from the outside. It was important to create a visual presence that stands out in the shopping district while maintaining a Japanese traditional feel in the city of Kamakura using lanterns, oren curtains, cypress lattices, En-Mado, and faintly reflective silver-leaf paper on the ceiling. The architects also introduce the idea of collecting used capsules by creatively designing an interactive lattice wall to place used capsules between the intervals.

street view of the Onari toy store

all images courtesy of Yuji Tanabe Architects

glass windows and a low wainscot reveal the capsules

Yuji Tanabe Architects creatively aimed to renovate and revive the previously known optics store. The Onari shopping street, leading to the West exit of the city’s station, is more frequented by locals, which is where the toy shop is located. Nevertheless in recent years Onari has also been used as a sightseeing route to the sea and the Great Buddha of Hase, thus adding historical value to the shopping district and preserving culture and tradition within the Onari Capsule shop. Originally this compact store had about six tatami mats with a width of 3.4m (11.2 ft) and a depth of 2.8m (9.2 ft). On the exterior facing the street, there was a frame door and a glass window that leaves a low wall wainscot–an area of wooden paneling on the lower part of the walls of a room– that effectively exposed the interior of the store to the passers-by on the street.

65 capsule machines are mirrored to illude an infinite space

From the shop’s entrance, 65 capsule toy machines look multiplied infinitely by a 3.4m (11.2 ft) high mirror on the right side. In addition, the 45mm square Japanese cypress lattices on the mirrored surface are arranged at intervals of 4 types (45mm, 55mm, 65mm, 75mm). The interval spaces account for the standard capsule sizes since the lattices function as a system that collects empty capsules. The capsule is inserted between two lattices after taking out the contents inside– a fun way to recycle the capsules.

The cypress lattice was cut out with En-Mado (circles) of different sizes on both sides. By making the En-Mado on the entrance side smaller than the one on the opposite side, the reflection on the mirror makes it appear smaller. In other words, the perspective is emphasized, and therefore it feels farther than the actual distance. Kamakura was a capital city in 800 years ago and it has a long history, which is why the Onari Capsule is a place that holds historical value and proposes a new way of sustaining the culture around capsule toy shops while providing a fun approach to recycling the capsules.

mirror wall on one side of the store creating the illusion of infinite capsules

Reference

optical

el departamento infuses mountainous hues into texturized optical boutique in madrid

El Departamento unveils new PJ Lobster boutique in Madrid

PJ Lobster’s Madrid store Unveils a Design Continuum

El Departamento’s Fusion of Textured Minimalism & Raw Precision

Glass blocks divide Eye Eye optical store by Best Practice Architecture

yuji tanabe completes capsule toy shop in japan with mirror optical illusion

‘ONARI capsule’ toy shop BY Yuji tanabe ARCHITECTS

glass windows and a low wainscot reveal the capsules

65 capsule machines are mirrored to illude an infinite space

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