Danbel
In the heart of the Eixample district, very close to shops in Passeig de Gracia, we find an old bank branch that has been completely gutted. A large local with great potential that has acquired a real estate company and remains waiting to be revived in a more than privileged location.
The clients, attracted by the idea of being a family business as well, contact Molins Design for the branding idea and design of a store for their luxury perfumery wholesale company in Barcelona.
The initial idea was to start from scratch. Create a new concept of “retail” multi brand, as well as luxury perfumery design in Barcelona.
A space where each of the manufacturers of high-end perfumes, have their design exhibition space, under the umbrella of a superior entity with a powerful brand concept.
Design of luxury perfumery in Barcelona
Danbel is a distribution agency for brands in the exclusive perfumery industry, which acts as a logistics and commercial platform to deliver this product to the final sales point.
This final sales point, in most cases, is the reference shopping center located in the center of large cities or in tourist areas.
Many of these companies in the luxury products’ industry, which they represent, and which target a very specific public, feel that some of the points of sale do not meet the quality standards that define them.
For this reason, and taking into account all the possibilities that an own space offers to make presentations, demonstrations, trainings, etc,… the owner family had decided to create a physical point of sale as a perfumery boutique.
A point of sale that would allow them to be at street level and connect more closely with a demanding public demanding a very personalized treatment.
With this idea in mind, the clients entrusted the interior design studio Molins Design with both the commercial interior design and the brand concept for the design of luxury perfumery in Barcelona.
With all the information gathered in the initial briefing, the Molins Design team got down to work to develop a creative challenge.
An approach without references, which involved defining everything from scratch, starting with building a brand identity. A great challenge that required maximum demand and commitment.
An ambitious and unrepeatable design of luxury perfumery in Barcelona, with a contemporary vocation and where design is placed at the service of interior design, to resolve a sensitive and elegant ambition.
Concept & branding for a perfumery boutique in Barcelona
In a first phase, the Molins Design team applied all its experience and knowledge in branding, to build a solid foundation from which to begin to define precisely what were the objectives to be achieved.
Through the development of different proposals and by means of a discarding exercise, details were polished until the final idea for the design of luxury perfumery in Barcelona was found.
The next phase consisted of looking for aesthetic and structural references by analyzing examples from different sectors such as luxury fashion, department stores, perfumery and cosmetics, health, beauty, and luxury products. During the process, references also emerged from the world of art, architecture, design and even cinema.
Once the whole set of references had been analyzed and with the key concepts previously defined, the aesthetic bases that would define the artistic direction of the design proposal for this perfumery shop design were established.
A very special space for an exclusive perfumery
Once the concept and aesthetics were defined, it was time to analyze the volumetric possibilities of the premises where this luxury perfumery interior design in Barcelona was to be developed.
Leaving aside the condition of the premises, the location was a real privilege, an urban jewel. Located a few meters from the shops in Passeig de Gracia and in a street about to be completely remodeled, the location could not be better.
The premise of this perfumery boutique is divided into a first floor of 150m2 and a basement of 80m2. It also has two transverse pillars that divide the premises, creating a very interesting rhythmic sequence to generate volumes.
In addition, the space has a central axis that connects the exterior and interior, defining a clear line of access to a covered interior patio and a large skylight, which provides natural light at the end of the premises.
Playing with space in the perfumery shop design
Having clarified the above points, the Molins Design team began an interesting phase of spatial planning, trying to fit the guidelines determined by the structural physiognomy of the building.
An exercise that was defining the different sizes and singularities of the different spaces of the premises, as well as an attractive play of volumes and proportions.
Another aspect to be resolved was the back of the premises, a space that, due to the light contribution of the skylight, was reminiscent of an old Arab bath or “hammam”.
This idea of a place of wellness and body worship fitted perfectly with the script of the perfumery interior design project. It was to be conceived as a space where the mysticism of perfume, as the ultimate expression of hedonism, would land softly in the visitor’s experience.
At the volumetric level, it remained to be defined what should happen with the set of irregularities presented by the adjoining party walls, the stairwell, the elevator shafts, and the different types of pillars.
Another important factor was accessibility, since the distance between the first floor and the basement was considerable and required a staircase. Also, the appropriate location of the elevator shaft needed to comply with the regulations had to be considered.
In conclusion, there was a whole set of elements that were a stumbling block to be solved, to give a formal and integrated aesthetic to the design of the luxury perfumery in Barcelona.
Countertop sketch
Sinuous and enveloping design for perfumery decoration
Considering the previous points, we came up with the idea of creating a lateral envelope, as an undulating skin. A solution that allowed to solve in a sensual way, a series of elements and that served as an excuse to make appear on one side, a counter facing the front door.
Breaking the microcement cladding present throughout the whole, it was decided to cover the wall halfway up with white Zellige tiles and, at the bottom, create a meeting with tiles in relief in the form of a wave of the same color.
From this encounter between ceramics, the counter bar emerges, an indispensable piece of functional use that is fully integrated in a very natural and organic way in this Passeig de Gracia perfumery.
Thanks to the whole process of definition work, it began to be perceived that the project could work by giving the whole a certain monastic air.
Through the implementation of barrel vaults, it was possible to give sense to the interlining of the existing lateral bays in the premises where this design of luxury perfumery in Barcelona was to be located.
Continuing with the use of curved and sinuous lines, a bet was made to include a whole plot of barrel vaults -inspired by Romanesque churches- with the interior lined in the same wood as the pavement, creating an interesting visual game.
Sketch of barrel vaults
Waiting corner elevation
Barrel vaults for the design of luxury perfumery in Barcelona
By implementing the barrel vault system to the whole perfumery decoration, the aim was that, in each sequence of vaults, when looking at the background, there would be a visual surprise.
In keeping with this idea, we also designed the appearance of a series of large LED screens, which were very useful as a visual and advertising claim for the perfumery and cosmetics brands represented.
Design furniture for an exclusive perfumery
Once the shell was solved, the store had to be equipped with those functional elements that were indispensable to solve the daily ins and outs of a high-end perfumes store.
The furniture was one of them, and it was here that Donald Judd‘s reference played an important role. His steel cubes, made in bright colors, fit perfectly as a contrast, with a very neutral volumetry.
The display furniture became pieces of design, providing that idea of clean and aseptic material, where the positioning of branded perfume bottles on its surface could stand out and not lose the necessary prominence.
Handmade sketch of display furniture
Detail of the baldachins
In the design of the luxury perfumery in Barcelona, the bare vaults of the bay’s sequences were too empty to be seen, so inspiration was sought in the old baroque churches, for the suspended elements, as suspended lamps, or baldachins.
These elements enrich and decorate the space and, in this case, also provide verticality and intentionality, both at the entrance of each of the sides, and in the central axis, helping to visually lead the visitor into the interior.
The suspended aluminum slats in gold, alternated with LED strips, add sophistication and the suspended boxes with Japanese-style backlit ceiling lights give an interesting touch of subtlety and mystery to the whole perfumery interior design.
An important element to be resolved when designing the perfumery boutique was the staircase leading to the basement. First, a handrail had to be designed to protect the opening.
Here it was thought a good solution to use glass, referring to the perfume bottle, a material that in one way or another had to be present in the project. It was using “U-Glass” that this need was translated into function.
Thus, a large translucent wall appeared as the perfect frame for the implementation of a lighting installation as a nod to Dan Flavin.
Sketch of display corner
In the design of the luxury perfumery in Barcelona, each brand had to have a “display-corner” that also had to serve as a point of sale and a personalized customer service point.
For these displays, screens were created in the form of lattices, made of micro-perforated sheet metal lacquered in the same golden tone as the slats suspended from the ceiling.
As a work surface for the counters, sinuous countertops in terrazzo made of recycled material from Hughet brand were chosen.
The basement floor was contemplated as a multipurpose room, intended for presentations and training sessions, where spaces for massages and treatments were also to be located.
Considering the development of a cabin’s area, where clients could be attended in an intimate and personalized way, the script had to take special care not to generate interferences to the user.
Based on this premise, different options were considered, and it was decided to use a curtain as a visual enclosure. It turned out to be a visual wall, which allowed to be arranged in different positions and thus be able to interpret a different script depending on the specific needs of each moment.
A furniture type pouf with wheels, also allowed to adapt easily to the different requirements of use of each occasion.
Welcoming this luxury perfumery in Barcelona with an entrance that was a true reflection of the philosophy that was to be transmitted, was one of the points where no effort was spared in this project. To do so, we wanted to respect the composition of the existing facade as much as possible.
For this reason, we recurred in contrast to the lower surface of the arched wall, dividing the interior of the facade from the street. In order to play with the opening of the light from the main door, aligning the door panel with the axis of the interior lattice and thus enhancing the idea of the central bay of the space.
At night, the perfumery boutique windows are perfectly framed, highlighting the geometry of the openings, and enhancing the presence of the boutique from the street. The name of the perfume boutique maintains a restrained and proportionate proportion, adapting elegantly and not at all strident to the scale of the space.
An ambitious and unrepeatable commercial design project, with a contemporary vocation and where design is placed at the service of interior design, to resolve a sensitive and elegant ambition.
Unfortunately, as fate would have it, this project will be part of our studio’s portfolio of unrealized projects, but it will undoubtedly be a source of inspiration for future projects.
