Image Credit : Bernard Phelan
Project Overview
The clients requirements- were that we up-grade the retail area (and back of house- consulting rooms) to be a contemporary fit-out with enough display area to accommodate 400 sets of spectacles within a tight budget, but also accommodate 6 staff members and their specific work needs. within this frame work(no pun intended) we had the freedom to design whatever we wanted thanks to the clients trust and willingness to take a risk. We began our conceptual stage with all things regarding vision, Colour being the most obvious was carefully considered, the colour green of the carpet and the green hedge promote restful sight. The Braille wall is a bit of fun but also a serious note at the importance of vision . However we also wanted to challenge perceptions of the traditional optometrists interiors. The design was underpinned with the primary consideration that it was a boutique retail space where any genre of product on display could sit comfortably - beautiful spectacles or beautiful dresses .
Project Commissioner
Project Creator
Team
nicolina caia
tania di lizio
Project Brief
The central counter serves as a strong visual anchor for point of sale and customer service. The design intent /focus was to create a space of welcoming ambience and a sense of free movement and circulation in a relatively small space. The interior was to be highly transparent and when viewed from outside lend a sense of ambiguity to the products sold. The purpose of this was to attract interest and lead to a desire to know more about the space presented. Playing with the notion of sight and the sheer wonder of seeing we added a bright pink neon on a wall opposite the street view with the words of a well known Louis Armstrong song that speaks of colour and sight. We also had a feeling that patients visiting the practice would hum this musical number,(as we did when we worked on this project) and add a positive experience to the visit. We have been told by staff of numerous people doing just that!
Project Need
Our aim was to challenge the medical aesthetic and a certain austerity that usually filters into designs for optometrists fit outs. Also our goal lay in creating a fresh, vibrant and pleasing interior that belie the budget constraints. In this project we tried to buck tradition and rather express individuality with unorthodox bespoke elements. We used orbs and circles extensively(the joinery legs, the light feature ,the curved edges of the rug, the Braille circles on the feature wall, the round display inserted in the hedge wall) ,as a motif for the eye and also to create a soft interior space. The approach to spatial planning was to consider the space as viewed from the outside and thus insure that all aspects of the shop were highly visible. In our design we sought to create an experience; visual, theatrical and musical.
Design Challenge
Our design challenge was to accommodate 400 sets of spectacles within a tight budget, but also accommodate 6 staff members and their specific work needs.Also challenging was to create a spaciaous feel, good flow and circulation in a fairly tight space. we needed to be cognisant of how services were delivered and make areas not only aesthetically pleasing but functional.Being an existing business we were mindfull that the time the practice was closed for renovations should be as little time as possible. Programing stages was carefully considered keeping disruption to a minnimum.
Sustainability
we are committed to delivering our projects in a sustainable and responsible manner. We used responsibly harvested timber resources . The floor surrounding the carpet(the carpet is made of wool) was timber look porcelain tiles-reducing overall the amount of timber used. We used highly durable and exceptionally good quality materials to ensure longevity of the project. The original Victorian shopfront was retained and made fresh with new paint colour . All materials were sensitively selected including low energy light fittings such as the locally made Geoffrey Mance feature pendant and recyclable products including the Woven Image Braille wall acoustic tiles.
Interior Design - Retail
This award celebrates innovative and creative building interiors, with consideration given to space creation and planning, furnishings, finishes and aesthetic presentation. Consideration given to space allocation, traffic flow, building services, lighting, fixtures, flooring, colours, furnishings and surface finishes.
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