COSMO retail store Chengdu District, Southwest China commercial building design, New Chinese retail architecture photos

COSMO retail store in Chengdu

post updated 16 February 2024

Architecture: Oft Interiors

Location: Chengdu, China

Photos by YanMing Studio and Shawn Photography

10 November 2023

COSMO retail store, China

Overview

Re-designing the retail experience for the next generation requires re-thinking the intention and use of a shopping mall. Oft Interiors’ creation of COSMO, from a department store in Chengdu built in 2007, relies on creating an illusion of limitless space to welcome a come-and-play energy.

COSMO underwent a major transformation led by Oft Interiors who aimed to reconstruct the entire shopping experience. They focused on creating scenes that prioritize entertainment, interaction, and immersive experiences. This meant breaking away from traditional commercial contexts and incorporating art, entertainment, and cultural themes into the redesign. The architects and designers had to anticipate future lifestyle trends and understand that modern consumers seek emotional connections, unique experiences, and personalized environments.

Retail and Design Strategy

Oft Interiors’ forward-thinking approach combines business trends, consumer psychology, and brand shaping to create a powerful brand presence for COSMO. It’s more than just a shopping center—it’s a comprehensive commercial IP that seamlessly integrates retail, pop-ups, events, performances, social interactions, and exhibitions through the constant addition of new functional scenes.

The development of new media and e-commerce has forced brick-and-mortar businesses to transform and upgrade. Currently, online platforms are unable to create immersive experiences. Therefore, experience has become the most important core advantage for in-person commerce. Design aims to help businesses uncover and build this core advantage, transitioning from solving functional problems to solving the problem of “function + experience + emotional connection.”

Design Solutions

In terms of spatial design for COSMO, Oft Interiors reimagines the consumer flow, eliminates physical boundaries, and creates flexible public spaces using innovative elements like metal components, exposed concrete, and LED screens. The result is a visually striking and futuristic environment that provides the perfect platform for brands to engage with consumers and foster cultural exchange. Unlike traditional public areas, there’s a seamless flow between the flooring and ceiling, creating a unique and flexible environment.

Using ceiling and floor patterns to form new spatial relationships and using materials such as high-polished stainless steel, glass and textured concrete with the integration of LED screens, the visual language implies movement and speed. Visitors bring their energy to the energized environment as they participate and interact with the dynamic new programming.

A continuously flowing, flexible public space allows the retail tenants to program visual art installations, live music, flash mobs, runway shows, launch events and showrooms that extend beyond their expected footprint. Flexibility in the design ensures that the physical interiors can support the evolution of the programming.

Visual cues that COSMO is not what you expect include a 21’ (6.5 meter) tall iconic blue rabbit art installation, CG animation electronic screens, high polished stainless steel, stucco and metal. Combine with an open ceiling with exposed infrastructure and the contrast between unfinished and highly finished adds to the unexpected sensory experiences.

Exposed water pipes, air ducts and electrical ducts; square columns of fair-faced concrete; large artificial matte gray cement tiles; original designed LED light-transmitting panels and fluorescent tubes; horizontal and vertical smooth lines, coarse and bare steel and concrete surfaces. All of them present an empty “industrial ruin style ” texture.

The seamless flow of the public space, both horizontally across each level and vertically connecting the three levels, intentionally is a watching and being watched dynamic for the visitors. It becomes a simultaneously active and passive experience for the visitors, which re-defines retail entertainment.

The ceiling is the most prominent clue in the whole scene. Oft Interiors uses different materials and forms of lighting to shape each floor and each partition environment, to guide the touring movement and create the space atmosphere.

COSMO retail store in Chengdu, China – Building Information

Architect: Oft Interiors
Location: Chengdu, China
Size: 1.076 million square feet (100,000 square meters)

Project Members and Consultants

Client: Chengdu Shangpu
Architect: CM Jao. Founding Principal, Oft Interiors
Architect: Ken Cheung. Founding Principal, Oft Interiors
Senior Designer: Samantha Chan. Oft Interiors
Senior Designer: Shanny Cheung. Oft Interiors
Senior Designer: Yoyo Au. Oft Interiors
Designer: Stella Tong. Oft Interiors
Designer: Tammy Au. Oft Interiors
Project Video: YanMing Studio

Oft Interiors

Oft Interiors is an architecture and design studio that specializes in entertainment, retail and commercial cultural spaces. It was founded in 2013 by architects CM Jao and Ken Cheung, both graduates of Hong Kong Polytechnic Institute, and is headquartered in Hong Kong.

Oft Interiors incorporates strategic, forward-looking insight into commercial real estate, being able to create a strong brand potential through the multi-dimensional integration of business trends, consumer psychology and branding.

Oft Interiors’ completed projects are found throughout Hong Kong, China and Asia. Clients including K11, China Resources Land, the Emperor Group, Intercontinental Group Holdings, Broadway, and Paragon. Jao and Cheung and frequently invited speakers at international industry conferences. A recently completed entertainment project was nominated as “Best of Year” by Interior Design magazine. For more information, please visit Instagram @oftinteriors.

Photography: YanMing Studio and Shawn Photography

COSMO retail store, China images / information received 101123

Location: Chengdu, China

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