Footwear and clothing brand ALOHAS has unveiled its first flagship store in Barcelona, situated on the city’s trendy Rambla de Catalunya.
With a design by Valencia-based Clap Studio, the 1,000-square-foot retail shop is a reflection of ALOHAS’ step toward brick-and-mortar retail after its e-commerce success. The space also showcases the brand’s new, more bold visual identity.
Drawing inspiration from the origin of ALOHAS—which was founded in Hawaii—Clap Studio moved away from the clean, paradisiacal beach aesthetic commonly associated with the islands and, instead, honed in on its brutalist landscape. To reflect this, the interiors are revealed as a volcanic grotto, referencing the natural phenomenon created by the flow and cooling of lava.
“The surface of a lava river, over time, cools and hardens, creating underground rivers that, after the eruption, transform into tunnels with a magical appearance,” says Clap Studio director Àngela Montagud. “This geological concept has been the cornerstone of our design.”
Overhea ceiling lights represent the openings that eventually form in the roofs of such lava tunnels. Metal furniture in sharp and aggressive shapes emulates the ferocity of lava, a striking contrast against the store’s otherwise serene atmosphere.
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