Page 101 - AIT0124_E-Paper

Entwurf • Design REM‘A, PT-Guimarães
„Walk with me – der Name ist Programm!“
Romeu Ribeiro und José Pedro Marques
Grundriss • Floor plan
Bauherr • Client ACS Comércio de Vestuário, PT-Porto
Standort • Location R. Pedro Homem d. Melo PT-Porto
Nutzfläche • Floor space 186 m 2
Fotos • Photos Ivo Tavares Studio, PT-Aveiro
Mehr Infos auf Seite • More info on page 126
SHOE STORE
IN PORTO
Only select shoe models that have been designed by
well-known fashion labels make it into the new shop
located at Rua Pedro Homem de Melo 127, where they
are now proudly displayed with the necessary accuracy
on wall shelves and stepped pedestals. Nevertheless,
it is well worth taking a look at the salesroom itself,
which has a restrained design but is just as eye-catching.
T hree times four lines – at first glance, the logo appears to be quite
hieroglyphic. At second glance, however, the meaning of the lines
becomes clear: Put together, they form the capital letters WWM, which
is the abbreviation for Walk With Me. The name says it all, as the shop
in Porto primarily offers its customers shoes alongside handbags and
purses – from casual trainers to elegant ankle boots, from labels such
as Scotch & Soda to Calvin Klein. The stage for the designer goods is
set by a minimalist interior in black and white, which is obviously not
intended to distract too much from the products that are displayed here.
The sales area with its large shop-window front is set up to be almost
symmetrically, with the checkout area located in the centre. The area
for trying on shoes is at the rear providing some privacy and direct
interaction with the staff. The walls were fitted with a simple Häfele
merchandise-support system and the backlit rear wall was constructed
of square perforated sheeting. The product carriers themselves are just
plain white shelves of two types offering multiple combinations. A com-
pletely different approach was taken when it came to the presentation
of the goods in the centre of the room: pedestals with a marble look are
assembled to form two islands that are staggered in height, thus creating
a striking (sales area) topography. The width of the pedestals – in other
places, they are also used as seating complete with upholstery – was
also taken up for the design of the ceiling: The format analogy between
the pedestals and the rectangular ceiling elements above the checkout
area are unmistakable. If you take a closer look upwards, you can see
that narrow light tracks run between the suspended white acrylic boxes,
creating effective lighting. As far as the flooring is concerned, the Por-
tuguese architecture firm REM’A, founded by the two architects Romeu
Ribeiro and José Pedro Marques, opted for white marble. Or rather, to
be honest, for a marble look, because appearances are deceptive: the
material is not natural stone, but vinyl flooring from the manufacturer
Quick-Step. The shop, which also includes a storage room, a technical
room and a toilet, covers a total of 186 square metres.
AIT 1/2.2024 • 101