RETAIL AND PRESENTATION

Dear Readers,

it could have been a picture-book summer, but ongoing material shortages, price increases and uncertainty over the impact of the war and COVID-19 development were likely to dampen summer spirits. However, the shopfitting industry seems to have learned to adapt to sharp changes in mood over the past two years. According to the latest survey by the German Shopfitting Association dlv, industry representatives are quite optimistic about the future. And we couldn’t help feeling the same way when selecting projects for this AIT issue on Sales and Presentation. Instead of being frustrated with the external circumstances, people invested in the design of shops and showrooms, as reflected in the large number of submissions. We have selected the projects that seemed particularly independent, exemplary and inspiring to us. We present lovingly and meaningfully designed grocery shops and completely new, digital retail formats, along with hairdressing salons (pictured above and on the right) and apparel shops all the way to glasses shops and jewellers.What they all have in common is an outstanding design concept that perfectly showcases the product to be marketed. Again, the theme is shopping with all our senses; the aesthetic reflection of the quality of goods or services is the idea! In her article “Long live the trade fair!” (from p. 118), retail expert Janina Poesch analyses the changeable format, looks back at the past and develops perspectives for the future. The future of building has been the theme of the student competition Solar Decathlon for 20 years. It was held in Germany for the first time, and the winners RoofKIT from the Karlsruhe Institute of Technology explain why a German team ultimately prevailed (from page 36). An exhibition by the BDA Baden-Württemberg proved to be particularly forward-looking: the coming out of architecture was celebrated with “I am a Queerspace” (from p. 138). And our author Benjamin Reding tells of the misfortune and fortune of sales in his breath-taking essay “Like in a film” (from p. 56)!

Best wishes
Petra Stephan, Dipl.-Ing.
Chief Editor
Architect