The new flagship store for Lululemon in Shanghai, China takes the active wear brand to another level in both the opportunity for connection and community and great interior design. Created by AIM Architecture, with Wendy Saunders and Vincent de Graaf as design principals, the team has produced an interior that is breathtaking in both concept and resolution.

At 1041 square metres (11205 square feet) the interior is large and, situated in the Jing An Kerry Center on Shanghai’s iconic Nanjing Road West, it becomes a must visit destination for discerning shoppers.

The exterior of the building features an enormous, curved glass façade that connects those passing by to shoppers inside. Customers can be seen from the street traversing the giant spiralling internal stairways and the interaction provides connection that brings the outside in and the inside out.

As the brand’s core identity encapsulates movement and style, the flagship store has been designed to embody these ideals through the sweeping stairs that traverses the walls and extends to the ceiling in a series of extrusions that interact and define the spatial layout. The stairways also act as a wayfinding tool, drawing customers through the interior to create an experience that becomes a journey of discovery where design and movement intertwine.

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The interior is light and bright with a giant void that offers a generosity of space not often seen in a retail establishment. The timber stairways complement the curved white perforated screens aside the walls and strip lighting has been used to great effect on stair risers, on the underside of stair wells and as a giant triangular feature on the ceiling.

As with all projects from AIM Architecture, there is simplicity of form and incredible detailing. There are walls and ceilings in white that feature an indented pattern beside changing room walls, perforated screens that define areas, through to curved walls with intrusions to display product. The pattern repeated and inverted becomes a playful reminder of design that is also visually exciting but multifunctional.

While the limited palette of materials is a continuum throughout the interior, the masterful design of the spatial layout helps engage customers and provides not only a place to buy the excellent Lululemon product but encourages the experiential element of discovery.

While a project of this dimension could overpower human physicality, this store provides areas that are more intimate aside the public thoroughfares. Products are displayed in niches and along the walkways. Changing rooms include arched shaped mirrors lined in timber on the underside and large spheres become feature wall sconces.

As designers, particularly in retail and hospitality projects, AIM Architecture is a global leader. Each commission is a new revelation of innovative thinking that always yields an outstanding result.  The flagship Lululemon store in Shanghai creates community through connection between the outside and inside but also supports the customer through a majestic and original interior design.

Once again AIM Architecture has created an exemplar project and with this new Lululemon store, being active has never felt so good.

Wendy Saunders is a member of the 2024 INDE.Awards jury.

AIM Architecture
aim-architecture.com

Photography
Dirk Weiblen

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