{Gravity}, a student of interior design at theMagdalena Abakanowicz University of Arts in Poznan, privately a big fan of travel and mountain climbing, decided to design an unusual mountain store. The interior of Gravity is a kind of architectural and display experiment, and the store's assortment is hidden in a geometric form inspired by the phenomenon of rock erosion.
The Gravity project was created as an undergraduate thesis under the direction of Maciej Basałyga, PhD.
The Gravity store is a kind of architectural and display experiment. I analyzed the mountain equipment stores I knew and came to the conclusion that most of them are visually chaotic, and an excess of colorful equipment causes confusion for the customer. So I decided to take a risk and create an interior where this assortment will be hidden. Hiding it will prevent visual evaluation in the first place, and betting mainly on the quality of the product will attract professionals. I assumed that we should be helped in our decision by an advisor who will be an expert in the field and will professionally select equipment in accordance with our requirements," explains Aleksandra Matusiak.
To make it possible to try out the products, the author proposed a test track and a small climbing rock, which will allow us to test, for example, shoes in different terrain conditions. She placed most of the sales area and the aforementioned track in the main hall of the premises, in close proximity to the entrances.
The space refers to the phenomenon of rock erosion
© Aleksandra Matusiak
inspired by rock erosion
Inspired by the disintegration of rocks under the influence of erosion, the designer created a form that dominates the interior of the store. It consists of several objects with geometric divisions connected by a unified structure forming substitutes for a platform and ceiling. Each form has a function. Several are used for storage, one as a climbing rock and another as part of a track with a ramp of varying textures. Two fitting rooms are hidden in the outer parts of the solids, located at the back of the solids.
Gravity store design, projections and sections
© Aleksandra Matusiak
gravity and mountain backpack
The name of the store "Gravity" inspired me to visually lift, massive forms and, as it were, "suspend them" above the floor. Thanks to this, I was able to separate two spaces. In which one - on the platform, was to refer to the mountains, and the rest of the premises, more austere, referred to the architecture of the city, remaining the communication context of the interior," says the student.
The aforementioned platform is not the only surface inspired by rocks - behind the stairs there are additional forms, which the designer intended to continue the "erosion narrative". They perform an important function - on the first floor we can find a sales counter arranged in them, and on the mezzanine, as a stylistic continuation, they offer access to a smaller assortment of commercial offerings.
The author proposed a test track and a small climbing rock
© Aleksandra Matusiak
For this kind of display, I was inspired by the mountain backpack, or more precisely, the way it stores things. The bottom of the backpack is where you put the least frequently taken out things, which are usually also the largest like a sleeping bag or a tent. Such a bottom of the back pack in my design is the first floor, and the top is where the most frequently used small items are placed. According to the above method, I planned the divisions of the forms, which are arranged from the largest to the smallest towards the top and correspond in part to the size of the pull-out drawers. These divisions are also found on the vault and platform of the main form, making the surface a unity.
solid design
© Aleksandra Matusiak
In an effort to use as much storage space as possible, Aleksandra gave the floor this function as well. Sections of the floor slide out, exposing footwear, for example, and additionally the protruding part can serve as a seat, making it easier for the customer to try on.
Mezzanine, stairs and steel mesh
An important step in the project was the extension of the mezzanine over the main hall - the author decided to add it for functional reasons, she wanted to thus gain access to the higher parts of the molds, which also store the assortment. Another important point was the creation of a mezzanine in the shape of a viewing terrace. This allows customers to get a better sense of the scale of the premises.
The staircase is made of steel mesh, and part of the surface is made of corten
© Aleksandra Matusiak
Important elements of the interior, which help shape its atmosphere, are the stairs in the center of the premises, which are made of openwork sheet metal and steel sections. Their form creates a contrast with the massive interior. The motif of steel mesh repeatedly appears in the space - it serves, for example, as protection against falling from the mezzanine.
The expanded metal mesh, made of stainless steel, was inspired by the mesh that protects against rock debris slides, which can be repeatedly encountered on extreme mountain trails. Several times in my design I juxtaposed contrasting phenomena, and I did the same with the choice of cladding material," the author adds.
The first material she used because of its reference to nature is a stone-textured laminate. On the other hand, the simplified surfaces alluding to the city were made of corten. The aforementioned steel mesh is stained a satin brown color, referring to the patina of the corten. An additional material is the mirror, which is located at the warehouse entrance and next to the social rooms on the first floor.
