Designing Brand Building Stores

"Shopping is an effective way to see a city; these days, to see what's new in architecture, the most efficient thing to do is to go and look at stores.When a traveller goes to London, Tokyo, Paris or LA, there is usually one new architecturally innovative museum to visit- but there are many new stores. They are open to the public and charge no admission"

Just had a chat with my sister (who happens to be an architect), the other day about this seminar she attended where this famous Prada store architect was telling them how modern architects should not think of just building buildings but how to be linked to " Globalisation". I was like..what?

We are no longer talking about building bricks, stone, nice designs anymore but also of engagement to the average consumer from ALL parts of the world. Hence, globalisation. And engagement of the consumer. Then as I was catching up on my reading again, I caught sight of this article from Fashion Week ( bizweek subscription) that featured how the luxury brands were using architecutural design of their stores to attract crowds, increase brand equity and ultimately to increase sales.

The photos I saw were really cool and it kinda changed the concept of a shop to me, out of the photos, I recognised this Prada Shop in New York Soho, where my sis brought us there to check it out while we were there for her graduation, something that I dont appreciate that much when i was younger, now i do! * sheepish grin* But a runway in the middle of the store? I was thinking it doesn't utilise space to sell as much per square metre eh...till i realised that was not the point...

Anyways read this article: Designing Brand Building Stores and check out the cool designs of these shops!