For clothing brand AVVENN’s latest retail concept in Shanghai, locally based Sò Studio explores the subtle conversations between objects and space to create a store that is generous in both volume and materiality.

From the outside, the two-level shop appears as a single white façade with intriguing layers to discover inside. A pink marble eave at the door is “more than an entry—it’s an emotional gateway that sets the tone for the rest of the experience,” says Sò Studio cofounder Mengjie Liu.

Inside, the store unfolds in a soft gray marble palette punctuated with a chorus of subtle pink and blue stones. “The gray-toned marble adds a tactile richness and depth, enhancing the spatial quality with its natural veining and subtle variations,” Liu explains.

The materials vary across the interiors, from the curved stone anchoring the first floor to the poured concrete columns with preserved air bubbles, creating the sense of being under construction. Mirrored elements connect the first floor to the second, offering an illusion of expanded space.

On the upper floor, eyes are immediately drawn to a structure suspended in the center of the room reminiscent of a curtain unfurling, which commands a strong sense of volume while maintaining an ethereal lightness.

An enclosed blue marble room is a moment of surprise—a dressing room stands where one might expect the elevator to be. “This unexpected twist not only challenges the conventional expectations of architectural space but also injects a sense of discovery and delight into the visitor’s journey,” Liu adds. “It’s a detail that transforms the ordinary into the extraordinary, adding a dramatic layer to the spatial experience.”

This article originally appeared in HD’s January 2025 issue.