In the words of the owners, the Emporium Nanak born of a desire to support a lifestyle seated on the tripod: happy, healthy and holy. The inspiration comes from the name of Guru Nanak Dev, reference among practitioners of Sikhism. The emporium offers a variety of products for home and organic, vegan and gluten-free foods, around a small chai-café space.

Exposure and Concealment
The project adopts a strategy that combines exposure and concealment of the products. A fixed grid oblique in relation to the two side walls permits full vision of the products for the incoming people, and in view of its concealment inside out. This feature guarantees a certain tranquility and silence, making the space more enjoyable for those who want to have a tea in the center table, without losing the typical plural ambience of the emporiums.

Unity and Diversity
The exhibition adopts a grid as a similar feature used in the graphic design for the organization full and empty spaces in a page. It’s structure allows flexibility of use and adaptability, by adding horizontal supports subdividing the modules. This solution provides unity to products so diverse in size, shape and color.

Symbolic reference
The standards used in the drilling of the pannels were extracted from Nanak Emporium’s logo, which is in turn referenced in the iconography present at the Golden Temple in Amritsar, a shrine of Sikhism, which is the religion of the owners of the emporium.

Materials and Colors
Raw materials are prioritized: concrete floor and ceiling and wood paneling on shelves, doors and walls. The yellowish wood takes on a golden glow, and acts as a background common to all products.

Lighting
A simple system of LED highlights the walls, contributing to product visualization. General lighting is provided by an installation with metal tubes with light bulbs, with controlled intensity.

Spatial organization
In the center of the emporium, lies a multifunctional structure to accommodate the shopping baskets, up to six people in the chai-café table, plus spaces for products and equipments. The arrangement allows the fluid movement of the visitors.

Architects: MACh Arquitetos
Architects In Charge: Fernando Maculan, Mariza Machado Coelho
Associated Architect: Gabriel Castro (MOBIO ARQUITETURA)
Photographs: Gabriel Castro

http://www.archdaily.com/368203/nanak-emporium-mach-arquitetos/