EuroShop RetailDesign Award: Jury of experts distinguishes the best store concepts
© EHI / Messe Düsseldorf
EHI and Messe Düsseldorf have been presenting the EuroShop RetailDesign Award (ERDA) to the world’s best store concepts every year since 2008. The jury of experts has chosen the winning stores, and this year there are winners in five categories for the first time: “Food”, “Fashion & Lifestyle”, “Hospitality”, “Digital” and “Sustainability”.
To choose who would come out a winner from among 87 entries from 28 countries, the jury evaluated a well-honed interplay of store architecture, colours, materials, lighting and visual merchandising as well as the implementation of a clear message about the product range and a direct appeal to customers. The most compelling store concepts came from Germany, Singapore, Italy and Switzerland: Edeka Hundrieser in Essen, Apple Marina Bay Sands in Singapore, FC Bayern World in Munich, Bridge in Zurich and GREEN B in Florence.
Category “Food”: Edeka Hundrieser, Essen, Retail Design: Kinzel Architecture
© EDEKA/Guido Leifhelm
In Essen in the middle of the Ruhr region, only 200 metres from its previous location, a 2,500-sqm Edeka supermarket owned by the Hundreiser family was established in July 2020. The store design is an homage to Essen’s history as a mining region and features the defining elements of coal mining and industry’s architecture: brick, steel and iron. The store’s look is dominated by dark colours which contrast with the light grey tile floor. Copper coloured elements, placed in many locations throughout the store, provide visual accents. The large, matte black lamps in the produce section at the front of the store hark back to the pipes and ventilation shafts of large industrial plants.
Category “Fashion & Lifestyle”: Apple Marina Bay Sands, Singapore, Retail Design: Foster + Partners
© Apple/Finbarr Fallon
The tech giant Apple’s Singapore store is located right on the water’s surface in Marina Bay, appearing as a shimmering, floating sphere. The 669-sqm store is fully surrounded by water and provides an unobstructed 360-degree panorama view of the city and its spectacular skyline. The sphere is the first all-glass dome of its kind; made of 114 pieces of glass, it is completely self-supported. The circular opening at the dome’s apex allows light to travel through the space over the course of the day. The inner side of the glass is lined with specially manufactured sheet metal to provide protection against the sun. At the centre of the dome is a video wall which serves as a stage for live sessions with artists and musicians.
Category “Hospitality”: Bridge, Zurich, Retail Design: Interstore | Schweitzer
© Bridge/Love Weber
Covering an overall space of 2,000 sqm, Bridge is a veritable bridge spanning a varied fresh-foods market, creative dining featuring local products and a diverse array of events. In line with its motto, “Meet food, meet the market, meet people”, the market is designed to become the new meeting place for culinary culture in the heart of Zurich. Located near the main train station, the market welcomes experimentation and is orientated toward travellers and local foodies who are eager to try new things. The market is also designed to test out new ideas. The ground floor contains the fresh foods department and the independently operated dining outlets, including a market grill, bistro and the Bridge Bar. The upper floor also features the Food Lab — a space with flexible, modular cooking stations that can be used for private or business events.
Category “Digital”: FC Bayern World, Munich, Retail Design: umdasch The Store Makers
© FC Bayern/Jens Pfisterer
In the heart of Munich between City Hall and the Frauenkirche, FC Bayern World is the new hotspot for all die-hard Bayern-Munich fans. In the new, 1,000-sqm store fans will find everything their hearts desire. The ground floor is dedicated to the team. Life-sized 3D-printed replicas of the players present the record-holding champions’ current jerseys. The more than 20 integrated digital touchpoints in the store include mirror screens in the fitting rooms as well as selfie stations and transparent screens for trophy presentations. On the lower level, fans will find an entire range of fan merchandise. Jerseys, balls and shoes can be personalised according to preference in the “Workshop”. Visitors can also see how their skills measure up to the stars in various gaming scenarios in the “Test Cage”. The FC Bayern World multiplex covers a total of 3,500 sqm over seven floors and also features two restaurants, a boutique hotel and an event venue in addition to the flagship store.
Category “Sustainability”: Green B, Florence, Retail Design: Benetton Group
© United Colors of Benetton
Energy efficiency, upcycled materials and an increasingly sustainable collection: United Colors of Benetton is reinventing itself, this time with a “green” concept that deploys natural materials innovatively and imaginatively. For example, the floor in Green B is made of Italian river rocks and reclaimed wood. The interior design uses repurposed materials taken from the waste of the textile industry — such as used buttons and recycled wool. In addition, shelves, display bases and mannequins are made of recycled textile fibres. Sensors and artificial intelligence control the 800-sqm store’s energy efficiency by automatically adjusting the store temperature according to the number of people in the store.
Source: EHI
