Architects Elastik have completed a new store for jewellery designer Lara Bohinc on Sloane Street in London.

The store’s display system employs repeated three-dimensional modules made of vacuum-formed surfacing material Kerrock.

Elastik are an architectural studio based in Amsterdam in the Nethernalds and Ljubljana, Slovenia.

They previously designed Bohinc’s first shop, a temporary showroom on Hoxton Street in London.

The Sloane Street store opened last month.

Here’s some info from Elastik:

–

The request to make a design functional for selling purposes and to create a great consumer experience – as well as having an amazing, unique and very special design was client’s initial commission briefing to Elastik. This is a second shop that Elastik has designed for Lara Bohinc. The first collaboration was the show room and a temporary shop on Hoxton Street, the second shop on Sloane Street is an evolutionary step forward.

The shop design from Hoxton served as a starting point for the new shop design on Sloane Street and a continuation of the Lara Bohinc’s secret “treasure chest”. Both shops are conceived around a three dimensional space-forming device that works as a lighting and holding element, but also provides an interface between the shop and the user of the shop.

The experience for the shopper is translated into a systematic geometry by using the repetition of one three dimensional device, a modular wall element made from vacuum pressed Kerrock. With the repetition of the spatial device element Elastik also made a unique homage to the famous partition walls by Erwin Hauer from the 60s.

Kerrock is a composite material whose main components are aluminium hydroxide and polymer binding substance on the base of acrylic and has a feeling similar to stone or ceramics, but can be shaped and sculpted with the same tools as wood. In this case computer made mould was used for vacuum shaping of the 3D element (device).

Combination of this material with black and gold color, maybe an unusual decision for the small space, provided an extremely luxurious touch and feel of the shop. The idea was not only to hint to luxury, ancient cultures and hidden treasures but also to create an unusual space without shadows. The only shadow is the one of the items displayed on shelves, vitrines and the jewellery table. This enables all the shiny jewellery items to stand out in a glamorous way.

The surprising geometry of a continuous form that the shopper maybe doesn’t’ grasp instantly and a combination of a modest traditional black restored Victorian façade works complementary to provide an instant identification and experience for the shopper.

location: Sloane Street 149F, London SW3, United Kingdom
type: lifestyle and fine jewellery store
facts: 20m2 retail space
structure: vacuum pressed kerrock

Design by Elastik: Mika Cimolini, Igor Kebel with assistance of Tomaz Pipan and Grega Pilih

Lighting design by Soncesenca
Carpenter works: Domiles d.o.o., Ljubljana
Refurbishment works: AGH d.o.o., Ljubljana

Photography: Bogdan Zupan