Sculptural Retail Interiors and Commercial Design
Retail design requires sculpting an environment that makes the product primary. I use raw concrete, steel, and light to construct spatial narratives that turn a store into an installation.
Mannequins displaying haute couture gowns appear to float within the Gaurav Gupta store. This low-angle shot emphasizes the verticality of the space and the way the sculpted interior directs the eye, turning fashion into a form of installation art.
A detail of the Gaurav Gupta store interior, showing a custom-fabricated metal console with a draped texture against a raw concrete wall. This juxtaposition of refined metalwork and rough material is a recurring theme in the project.
Cantilevered concrete shelves emerge from the wall, serving as minimalist pedestals for displaying accessories. The overhead skylight casts natural light down the textured concrete, highlighting the interplay of form and material.
A detail view looking up into a narrow, textured concrete crevice within the store. This demonstrates the construction technique used to achieve the cave-like, excavated quality of the space, focusing on raw materiality.
An early digital rendering of the Gaurav Gupta store concept. This visualization was a key part of the design process, used to study the spatial relationships between the mirrored surfaces, concrete forms, and the placement of mannequins.
An initial concept sketch for the store's interior. This drawing explores the fundamental idea of suspending forms and figures within a defined architectural volume, which became the guiding principle for the final design.
About Sculptural Retail Interiors
Before a single wall is cast, I develop 3D printed scale models to study how natural light strikes surfaces like exposed concrete or oxidized metal. This ensures the spatial narrative, whether cave-like or industrial, remains consistent once executed on site.
For me, a retail space is an opportunity to craft an immersive experience. My methodology begins with a rigorous investigation of the brand identity, translating abstract values into built form. Whether it is a luxury showroom requiring a cave-like atmosphere or an industrial-chic store, I rely on the honesty of raw materials like exposed concrete, steel, and timber.
The execution phase is as critical as the concept. I provide detailed shuttering plans to ensure concrete walls are cast with precision, while also designing custom joinery for display units that feel like permanent, sculptural elements rather than temporary furniture. Lighting is treated as a construction material in itself, modeled to create the high-contrast environments necessary to highlight merchandise.
I maintain oversight through the entire build, with site inspections focused on the quality of formwork and reinforcement. My studio handles everything from the initial spatial zoning to the final material specifications, ensuring that the physical environment is climate-responsive and architecturally coherent. If you are seeking a commercial space that deviates from standard retail layouts, let us discuss how to build it.
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