Driven by shifting consumer trends, brand spaces are moving beyond their traditional role as mere retail venues, evolving into user-centered, multi-dimensional environments that balance experience and practicality.
In this project, Hongbo Chen, Creative Director of LubanEra·Design, explores the underlying logic of retail environments and approaches the design from a fresh perspective. Eschewing rigid and monotonous display models, he seamlessly integrates spatial aesthetics, architectural structure, functional considerations, and brand character, creating a distinctive spatial identity that refreshes the brand expression while shaping a flexible system that adapts to evolving needs.
The space is organized into one lounge area and four negotiation zones, with rational planning reshaping a multi-dimensional commercial setting. Infused with human-centered warmth, the open, fluid layout fosters a sense of everyday ritual and unfolds a versatile environment rich in imagination.
Rather than pursuing predefined design styles, Hongbo Chen seeks to unlock the commercial value of aesthetics in space. Drawing on hé’s brand ethos of unbounded style and effortless fashion expression, he introduces box-like volumes to organize the space into four versatile zones—accommodating diverse product displays while enabling flexible adaptation for various activities.
Rich Layering, Artistic Aperture
Each element carries a distinctive texture and form. The interplay of spatial composition and blurred boundaries dissolves conventional rigid partitions. The display settings, subtly enclosed by natural stones, balance organic tactility with refined elegance. A suspended rectangular volume is carved out with an irregular aperture, transforming into a distinctive “display window.” Its raw textures soften geometric rigidity, revealing an effortless sense of warmth, refinement, and organic charm. Through this sculpted aperture, one perceives not only displayed objects, but a spatial narrative that extends into art, aesthetics, and individual lifestyles.
Rhythmic Corridor, Illuminated Vaults
The corridor unfolds with a linear rhythm that enriches spatial layering. A sequence of vaults shapes the ceiling, accentuating an artistic atmosphere. Track lighting stretches along the passage, guiding movement toward the lounge area while softening the spatial transition. Light and shadow wash across the vaulted ceiling and interact with the garments on display, dissolving stillness and animating the space.
Rotating Arcs, Anchored Axis: A Fluid Spatial Realm
In the central negotiation area, exposed concrete structures, a circular light membrane, and curved walls define a restrained yet expressive atmosphere. The curved walls serve both practical functions and as a medium for brand storytelling, forming a semi-open display area that aligns with the space’s raw and natural aesthetic. The garments displayed within create a dynamic visual backdrop.
A central axis runs through this area, preserving visual openness while ensuring fluid circulation. It anchors the rotation of the curved walls, enabling seamless transitions across diverse spatial configurations.
Material Symbiosis, Spatial Renewal
Material properties are not static or isolated; rather, new structures, relationships, and meanings emerge through their interplay. As different materials interweave and recombine, they generate new expressions that transcend conventional perceptual boundaries, unlocking new dimensions of value.
From an aesthetic perspective, the austere gray tone of exposed concrete echoes a raw industrial aesthetic, while travertine’s earthy hues ground the space in natural authenticity. The interplay of color and texture produces a layered sensory experience—retaining each material’s intrinsic qualities while giving rise to an aesthetic that transcends the material itself.
Stone Carries Time, Space Embraces Ease
Natural stones within the space carry organic contours and the imprint of time. Weathered by nature and reinterpreted through design, these elements transform into sculptural installations that coexist with contemporary materials, evoking a renewed sense of natural vitality. Here, diverse perceptions and experiences unfold in harmony, reflecting the brand’s ethos of spontaneity and ease while enriching the space with a nuanced artistic atmosphere.
The project explores the relationship between spatial design and consumer behavior, integrating contemporary artistic thinking to reshape the retail environment. The result is a distinctive spatial identity that balances narrative depth and a sense of ease.
With design as a lens and garments as a medium, the project envisions a forward-looking symbiosis of fashion and space. Through the interplay between material aesthetics and contemporary lifestyles, the space evolves into a flexible and multi-dimensional environment—extending fashion beyond a single dimension and opening new possibilities for self-expression amid the convergence of culture, individuality, and everyday life.
Project Information
Project Name: Hé Showroom
Location: Nanyou, Shenzhen
Type: Commercial Space
Area: 300 sqm
Completion: Jan. 2025
Design Firm: LubanEra·Design (www.lubanera.com)
Creative Director: Hongbo Chen
Design Team: Zhang Le, Wu Jianxing, Hu Yeguang
Photography: Nie Xiaocong