meets
MIM
Abstraction and material uniqueness.
City
Madrid, Spain
Program
Retail
Type
Private Commission
Year
2024
Status
Built
Client
MIM
Photography
Simone Marcolin

The abstraction and the search for the purely essential finds its maximum expression in this project. MIM is a store specializing in women’s footwear whose big goal is to show the product in a surprising way.

This challenge, together with the uniqueness of the proposed space, turns this intervention into a set of decisions where experimentation plays a decisive role.

The need to create a recognizable path is once again in the foreground. Although the longitudinality of the space is perceived as an unfavorable aspect, the project is designed to emphasize and reinforce this fact.

An unusual exhibition strategy is proposed through two strong and radical gestures. On the one hand, an imposing steel sheet acquires a curved geometry and fulfills a double function: it hides the private areas of the store and guides the user towards the back of the space.

On the other hand, a longitudinal staircase runs along the entire exhibition area. While on a day-to-day basis they display products, they can eventually become an amphitheater from which customers can enjoy an improvised fashion parade.

At the back of the space, the project ends with a fitting room area where the presence of geometry is evident. A semicircle made of steel encloses two rooms and frees a space that does not go unnoticed.

The sobriety of the described actions is supported by a singular use of materials. Steel takes on a considerable role in the conception of the space. The large curve dominates the scene and, thanks to its reflections, offers a distorted image that generates surprise in the user. In contrast to this, a continuous and homogeneous pavement is raised and staggered to form the grandstand. In this way, the whole piece is understood as a whole and, thanks to its neutral character, manages to highlight the product displayed on it.