Store Fora Rato

The project for this new eyewear store located near Largo do Rato, in Lisbon, arose from a commission for the design of a display concept. The premise was essentially the creation of an architectural element capable of structuring the space and defining how the products would be presented.
The realization of the store results from an investigation centred on the theme of product display, which culminated in the construction of an exhibition structure along one of the lateral walls of the space, guided by two essential themes: adaptability to the constant renewal of the products on display and a clear definition of the materiality of the system.
The multiplicity of models led to the development of a modular display capable of presenting two hundred and sixty-six units. The panel, measuring 4.2 meters by 2.5 meters, is divided into small display cells that can be opened or closed according to the needs of the space, producing a sense of continuous transformation and allowing the environment to adjust to the rhythm of product updates.
The artisanal nature of the production, and the image of the craftsman making each pair of glasses as if it were the last, one after another, led us to a rigorous investigation into the materiality the display would assume. The decision was made to construct the display entirely in untreated tola wood, a material that reacts to light and use, acquiring marks and tonal variations over time and functioning as a living element within the space.

Lisbon - Portugal
2016

Photography: Garcês