Australian Leisurewear Label Venroy Opens In Byron Bay - inspired by the Piazza’s of Rome and their eternal water fountains.
Designed for Australian leisurewear label, Venroy, Byron Bay is their seventh store across both Australia and a newly opened door in Capri, Italy earlier this year.
The retail store is designed to be transportive, taking the customer on a journey to aspirational destinations around the globe. For Byron Bay, the architectural and philosophical pillars of a traditional Italian Piazza have been adapted into a contemporary retail setting. Inspired by the Byron way of life and their renowned community spirit, the Venroy Piazza offers a marketplace to gather and rest.
The design sees a curation of natural materials and an understated neutral palette. The natural ageing of materials is purposefully embraced to install warmth and character over time. Travertine, a natural stone used by the Romans 2500 years ago, envelopes the floors and seven anchoring columns. The use of this classic Italian building material, in its purest form, being raw and unfilled, conjures an alfresco sensibility.
Elliptical arches anchored by travertine clad pillars were designed to frame pockets
of activity and zone merchandised product stories.
The monolithic custom benches, reminiscent of public seating, aim to encourage
casual gatherings within the space.
The water fountain, at the heart of the store offers a blank canvas for
future activations and collaborations with like-minded brand partners.
Merchandising elements, including hang rails, display shelves and a point-of-sale counter, are custom metal works made of stainless steel that has been hand finished in an orbital sand. Other custom metalwork pieces such as steel porter’s trollies speak to the Venroy Hotel concept and emanate the spirit of both travel and leisure.
Furniture and objects have been sourced both locally and from around the globe to evoke a unique sense of place. Sourced pieces lean into the brand’s Italian heritage, including accents such as a one-off Murano glass wall sconce, a white Nesso 60’s inspired lamp and a 1960’s Cristal wall mirror. Together, they instill a nostalgia and yearning for a European escape.
The Mantila sofa set is another ode to a relaxed Italian lifestyle, distinguished by the ancient memory of covering furniture in holiday houses during the long winter months.
Designed by Sarah I'Anson Design Office. Photographed by Tom Ross.
