A.R.E Awards – Softline Specialty Store 3,001-25,000 sq. ft. – Grand Prize

Carlo Pazolini Piazza Cordusio, Milan

This 4,155-square-foot flagship for the shoe retailer—its first in Western Europe—juxtaposes its modern design and historic building, capturing attention from its piazza exterior. A series of large windows faces the busy piazza, together with high ceilings and cast-iron columns. Color compositions shift as shoppers move through the space. In reference to the store’s merchandise, the shape of an infant’s foot inspires an iconic “cell” in a network of display shelving and seating. The shelving and seating cells incorporate an innovative and glueless molding process, which bonds natural wool felt with the polymer, forming a new structural composite. Paths manifest as metal tubing or dashed wood slatwall panels, which eventually peel away from the plaster wall, creating a dramatic andeye-catching display to lure customers into the space.

Design by Giorgio Borruso Design

The Association for Retail Environments (A.R.E.) is a Hollywood, Fla.-based non-profit trade association representing the retail environments industry. Our 600 member companies include store fixture suppliers, retail design firms, suppliers of visual merchandising products, and suppliers of materials and equipment for the retail environments industry. Member capabilities include importing, exporting, consolidating, installing, project management, engineering, design, and more. A.R.E. Mission: Advance the industry and the success of our member companies.
Las Vegas (March 29, 2011)—The 57 awards presented by the Association for Retail Environments at a ceremony in the Venetian honor the creators of retail theater worldwide.