STUDIO DOHO was commissioned by co-retail start-up OceanSpot to design the brand’s first concept store in Shanghai. Located at the entrance to one of the cities preeminent creative hubs, Bridge 8, the original brief called for a project that both makes a bold statement to attract consumers and serves as a distinct meeting point for creative professionals.
The exterior façade of the double-height, 127 sqm storefront was covered with a color-changing dichroic film. Circles were cut into the film to define areas for retail window displays. The result was a dynamic storefront that casts colorful “light shadows” on the surrounding sidewalk.
Completed in Fall of 2018, a key challenge was finding a creative way to differentiate the storefront, while limiting the impact on the existing glass façade. Lead designers Xin Dogterom and Jason Holland said, “When we first saw the dichroic film samples we knew it would be the perfect material to capture the essence of this project with minimal impact to the existing storefront; when it was installed, it brought the project to life in ways we never could have imagined.”
OceanSpot serves as a co-retailer that creates curated retail experiences based on specific themes. Xin (Dutch-Chinese) said, “Brick-and-mortar retail is changing quickly around the world, but perhaps no-where faster than China. The prevalence and convenience of online shopping has forced both brands and designers to re-think traditional shopping elements.” Jason (USA) continued, “This has allowed opportunities for experience-base shopping, which engages the consumer and becomes a unique and ever-changing destination.”
To accommodate ever-changing retail display, a series of wood and metal grids were installed on the interior walls and columns. A bespoke shelf and hook system was fabricated, which was be inserted in an unlimited number of combinations, based on the needs of the product.
A craft coffee bar operated by The Coffee Academics, provides the backdrop to the diverse space and elevates the shopping experience, while providing a focal point for the creative professionals working in the complex.
