Molecure North Hub

Lee Kuomin Photography Teams

• Architects

Near yet far, constructing the density and fluidity of space
In an era of information overload and rapid sensory stimulation, maintaining sustained high-speed operation taxes both body and mind excessively. When our consciousness becomes dulled due to energy depletion, there arises a need for emotional whitespace that can settle and quiet the mind, while rejuvenating its functions.

Although it is a pharmacy, it strives to redefine the spatial significance and behavioral context of pharmacies. Since establishing its flagship store in 2016, Molecure Pharmacy has embraced the concept of curating health-related products. They aim to foster lifestyle awareness from the source, making the pursuit of health a beautiful endeavor. Recently, they are set to open their first new brand location in Taipei.

photo_credit Lee Kuomin Photography Teams — Lee Kuomin Photography Teams

An Intricate approach, scaling with distinction
We still remember how the flagship store transformed spatial forms and materials to break away from the traditional image of pharmacies and the visual framework of what "nature" refers to. Evolving into Molecure Pharmacy 2.0, Waterfrom Design’s experimental concepts will elevate from tangible symbols and materials to a mastery of behavior and scenarios. This highlights the interdependent relationship between space and personal experience.

The store is located in a department store's underground shopping mall, near elevator entrances and dining areas. The space's height and artificial lighting are restricted by mall regulations, and the surrounding environment is complex and difficult to control. Therefore, it is necessary to clarify: How will the space, as the first impression of the brand, shape the viewer's expectations and understanding of the interior?

We imagine the feeling of being overwhelmed by daily affairs, like being in a vast desert, difficult to navigate or control. If there was a place offering visual and emotional respite, could it be defined as a sensory oasis? The relationship between the brand and the department store space is like that between an oasis and a desert. Despite their adjoining boundaries, the oasis remains a distinct and striking presence within the landscape, almost like a parallel world.

Through design, we aim to create a space that is both transparent and distinct from its surroundings. The pharmacy will act as a situational vessel, filtering out disturbances, soothing emotions, and guiding behaviors. By manipulating perceptions, we seek to construct an atmosphere of tranquility and serenity.

Microscopic construction links aggregation, surrounding sculptural elastic skin
First, we use a modular system calculated with existing metal tubes of varying diameters. These tubes are arranged in a repetitive pattern, where points, lines, and surfaces connect and aggregate like molecular chains to form display racks, elevated to 2 meters to enhance vertical enclosure. The inward-slanting, passage-like entrance employs winding and folded pathways to complicate spatial layers within the limited area. This design ensures that the line of sight, pathways, and emotional expectations from outside to inside, do not directly reveal the answer, keeping the full picture hidden

The sleek, penetrating structure of the display racks shapes the space and flow, but it still requires a semi-transparent layer to shield internal activities and enhance privacy. Inspired by the concept of molecules penetrating cells, we chose horizontally wound fiberglass threads as the backdrop. From a distance, this creates a translucent membrane that blurs the details behind it, obscuring the intent of the space. One must truly enter to fully experience the complete picture.

The membrane not only separates the internal and external visual surface forms but also acts as a medium disconnecting temporal associations. Users entering the environment perceive contrasting elements that seep personal experiences on multiple levels. For instance, rather than fixating on the conventional notion of "green" associated with oasis, the overall color scheme is anchored in the brand's symbolic blue, representing purity and technology. This approach creates an ideal scenario of environmental order in vacuum, transforming "oasis" into a more interpretable and flexible concept, allowing the design language to transcend the constraints of literal symbols.

Organic gathering and dispersal, finding one's own island
Different from the volumetric feel of the semi-transparent outer facade, the internal circulation diverges into display platforms. Extending from cellular shapes and nestled curved surfaces, these form the basis of the circulation flow. Imagine a sense of spacious yet interconnected activity within the space. Evolving this concept into a planar layout, we create a diverse visual experience for the brand through multiple entrances, diagonally developed pathways, and varying densities between display racks. This approach aims to provide a cohesive yet detailed visual composition for the brand.

Unlike the penetrating structure of the outer ring shelves, the central display platforms feature solid, half-height volumes. Each section is designed with staircases of varying scales and twists, guiding the eye through undulating forms. These platforms resemble miniature architectures weathered by the flow of time, gradually integrating into the landscape. Remnants of civilization in their contours subtly reveal ancient clues.

Encapsulating enclosure and permeation, isolation and coexistence, nature and civilization—these contrasts exist not only in everyday life but also within personal experiences. We strive not to be seen through at first glance yet simultaneously hope to be understood. Through spatial synthesis, these contrasts merge into a simultaneous experience of dual aspects, which is the evolutionary approach we aim to experiment with.

A pharmacy unlike any other, an oasis that defies expectations, transcending boundaries imposed by surface appearances to recalibrate the perception of space within limited confines. Through this, we aim to construct a distinction between inner and outer realms of the mind. Breaking free from the conventional supply-demand framework of pharmacies, we expand imagination to loosen the inertia of thought. Here, behavior and aesthetics converge to serve as a spiritual reservoir for nurturing both body and mind.