RETAIL AND PRESENTATION

Dear Readers,

Golden times for retail look quite different: many people’s buying behaviour is marked by caution and uncertainty. Rising living costs, geopolitical crises and ongoing price increases are weighing on consumption, as is a more conscious approach to shopping, shaped by reflection on what is necessary and meaningful. Yet brick-and-mortar retail remains vital for our cities, as well as for shared experiences, encounters and culture, and will continue to play an important role in the future. Well-functioning retail concepts that combine local culture, high-quality interior design and technological innovation – without losing sight of the brand experience – are essential for success. When the design of the retail space offers an impressive shopping experience, promises a high quality of stay and strongly resonates with its target audience, it’s clear that professionals were at work. For this issue’s topic of “Sales and Presentation”, we searched worldwide for precisely such projects and found them across Germany, as well as in Spain, Serbia, Italy, Finland, the Netherlands, Switzerland, France, the USA and China. It goes without saying that these designs are not about superficial gimmicks, but about sustainable experience architecture – for planners, building on existing structures and reusing materials seems to have become second nature. This approach is equally relevant in trade fair construction, as Prof. Thomas Hundt of jangled nerves explains. He has developed a modular stand system that adapts to each event and ultimately finds its purpose as both showroom and event space. Editorial teams are also not static systems but are continually evolving. With a mix of nostalgia and gratitude for years of productive and dedicated collaboration, we said farewell to AIT colleagues Kira Kawohl and Stephan Faulhaber. We wish them every success in their new professional endeavours. At the same time, we are delighted to have found the ideal reinforcement for our editorial team in the experienced Ulrike Kunkel (image right), who joins us as Deputy Editor-in-Chief, and we look forward to working with her. In case you are wondering why the architects pictured are (mostly) dressed in black, design manager Marcel Rijkse explains the reasons.

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