Sò Studio has brought new life to a Shanghai store to create a strong contemporary identity.

The project is the multibrand fashion boutique's Xintiandi flagship store, and is located in what was an old house. It focuses on a design seeking to intentionally blur the boundary between old and new by repurposing used materials in new designs.

The space is organised into three parts: show window area, major display area and accessories area. Mottled brick walls, exposed structural steel and traces of decor from previous owners have been kept in place, while elsewhere abandoned pipes have been rearranged and turned into racks for handbags alongside antique doors kept from the old house.

By retaining historical traces, the design creates new traits belonging to the present that not only continue the story of the building but also record its ongoing creation.

This project has been longlisted in the small retail interiors category of Dezeen Awards 2022.

Designer: Sò Studio

Project: Looknow Flagship Store