No matter how large or small, innovative store concepts make a strong case for the future of brick-and-mortar retail.

Galleria
Gwanggyo, South Korea

For the sixth outpost of Korean department store Galleria, global architecture practice OMA was tasked with envisioning a radical, innovative concept that’s also highly functional. The firm did just that. Set within a growing lakeside urban development in Gwanggyo, a town just south of Seoul, the 10-story, cube-shaped structure boasts a textured mosaic stone façade that comprises 14 types of granite and is broken up by an intricate multifaceted glass walkway that snakes around the building. “We designed a building that would relate to the surroundings—both the lake and the huge residential towers,” says OMA partner Chris van Duijn, “but also accommodate the need of the single pedestrian, walking from the sidewalk, inside, and upwards to the top floor through the public loop.”

AND.G Concept Store
Shijiazhuang, China

While crafting the interiors of the AND.G Concept Store within the Mixc shopping mall, Shanghai-based firm DAS Lab was inspired by a quote from English poet John Donne: “No man is an island, entire of itself; every man is a piece of the continent, a part of the main.” The designers applied this sentiment to the 1,937-square-foot space, which unifies several fashion brands under one roof while embracing the concept of decentralization. This is achieved via a rectangular layout outfitted in cool tones and metallic materials such as sandblasted stainless steel, terrazzo, and wood grain cement board. By weaving together this complementary palette, “brands are encouraged to intersect each other to create vague boundaries of non-confusion,” says founding partner and creative director Li Jingze.

Photo by Hong Sung Jun and Shao Feng

This article originally appeared in HD’s August 2020 issue.