projects | Viabizzuno progettiamo la luce

simplicity and materials are the basic elements of the design by kengo kuma & associates for the spanish footwear company's new showroom in the most elegant street in milan. proof that innovative projects can be designed using, as a starting point, the relationship between a detail or small object - like a pair of shoes - and the building that has to contain and display it. all the walls of the shop were entirely clad in plywood panels, joined together and mounted using the simplest and most basic system possible. the material is inexpensive but at the same time practical, very warm to the touch and capable of conveying an effective message. each panel contains concealed lights, some for the exhibitor and others to emphasise the depth of the building. compared with the simplicity of the material therefore, the integrated lighting system is extremely sophisticated; there is no visible evidence of wiring even at the joints, since the cables run through tiny holes inside the panels. the idea behind the use of timber panels was to make them look like a simple 320 x 320mm grid, a dimension that matches the standard format of the shoes displayed in the shops. due to the different position of the vertical panels however, the system unexpectedly turns out to be a complex three-dimensional and random-looking structure when viewed in perspective. the choice of materials is limited to plywood panels for the walls and natural stone for the floor. both the untreated finish of the panels and the varied surfaces of the acid-treated limestone slabs, however, fill the space with differing tones and rich textures. this dichotomy, between what at first sight is a simple and basic approach and on closer inspection is sophisticated and complex, is the most significant feature of the design for this space, which echoes the client company’s attitude towards style.