Retail stores

A team of architects and construction scientists that have extensive experience designing and building retail stores that are both functional and aesthetically pleasing. Our retail store designs are tailored to the specific needs of each client, ensuring that their stores are successful in the long term.

What Makes a Retail Store Great?

Customer focus: The customer should always be the top priority in a retail store. This means providing excellent customer service, having a wide variety of products that meet the needs of your target customers, and creating a shopping experience that is enjoyable and convenient.

Location: The location of a retail store is important for both visibility and accessibility. A store that is located in a high-traffic area is more likely to attract customers, while a store that is easy to get to will make it more convenient for customers to shop there.

Product selection: The product selection in a retail store should be carefully curated to meet the needs of your target customers. You want to offer a wide variety of products, but you also want to make sure that the products you offer are high quality and competitively priced.

Pricing: The prices of the products in your retail store should be competitive with other stores in the area. You want to make sure that your prices are low enough to attract customers, but you also want to make sure that you are making a profit.

Marketing and promotion: You need to market and promote your retail store to let people know about it. You can do this through advertising, social media, and other marketing channels.

Store design: The store design should be inviting and appealing to customers. The store should be well-lit and organized, and the products should be displayed in a way that is easy to see and shop for.

Employees: The employees in your retail store should be friendly, helpful, and knowledgeable about the products you sell. They should be able to answer customer questions and help customers find what they are looking for.

North America Retail Architecture: The Future of Shopping

North America retail architecture is evolving to meet the demands of the modern shopper. With the rise of e-commerce, physical stores need to offer more than just products. They need to provide immersive experiences that will keep shoppers coming back. This is where North America retail architecture comes in. By incorporating innovative design elements, such as augmented reality and virtual reality, North American retailers can create stores that are truly the future of shopping.

IKEA Toronto (Canada)

This IKEA store was awarded the 2022 Retail Design Award for Best Large Format Store. The store is designed to be as sustainable as possible, with features like a green roof and rainwater harvesting. It also features a number of innovative design elements, such as the "IKEA Playscape," a large indoor playground for children.

Name: IKEA Toronto

Year Built: 2022

Location: 382 Yonge Street, Toronto, ON M5B 1S9, Canada

Size: 430,000 square feet

Architect: NORR Architects

Store Design: The IKEA Toronto store is designed to be as sustainable as possible, with features like a green roof and rainwater harvesting. It also features a number of innovative design elements for children, such as the "IKEA Playscape," a large indoor playground.

Whole Foods Market (United States)

This grocery store chain has been praised for its commitment to sustainable design. The stores are designed to be energy-efficient and use recycled materials whenever possible. They also feature a number of innovative features, such as rooftop gardens and rainwater harvesting systems.

Name: Whole Foods Market

Year Built: 2023

Location: United States

Size: 50,000 square feet

Architect: SmithGroup

Store design:

The store features a number of sustainable design elements, including:
A rooftop garden that provides fresh produce for the store
A rainwater harvesting system that collects rainwater for irrigation and other uses
Energy-efficient lighting and appliances
Recycled materials used throughout the store

Apple Fifth Avenue (United States)

This Apple store in New York City is one of the most iconic retail stores in the world. The store is designed to be a "glass cube," with large windows that allow natural light to flood the interior. It also features a number of interactive elements, such as a large video wall and a spiral staircase.

Name: Apple Fifth Avenue

Year Built: 2001

Location: 767 Fifth Avenue, New York, NY 10153

Size: 24,000 square feet

Architect: Foster + Partners

Store design: The store is designed to be a "glass cube," with large windows that allow natural light to flood the interior. It also features a number of interactive elements, such as a large video wall and a spiral staircase.

The Best African Retail Stores

Discover the best African retail stores for unique and authentic products. Explore our curated list of African-owned businesses that are sure to impress.

Checkers Foods Franschhoek

in South Africa won the Gold Award for Supermarket/Grocery Store at the 2019 Shop! Association Design Awards. The store is designed to reflect the local wine region, with exposed brick walls, wooden beams, and a large skylight that floods the space with natural light.

Name: Checkers Foods Franschhoek

Year Built: 2019

Location: Franschhoek, South Africa

Size: 1,000 square meters

Architect: TDC&Co

Store Design: The Checkers Foods Franschhoek store is designed to reflect the local wine region, with exposed brick walls, wooden beams, and a large skylight that floods the space with natural light. The store also features a wide variety of fresh produce, meats, cheeses, and other groceries, as well as a Starbucks coffee shop.

The Market on Main

in Nigeria won the Bronze Award for Specialty Food and Consumables Retailer at the 2019 Shop! Association Design Awards. The store is designed to be a vibrant and welcoming space, with a mix of local and international products. The interior features a large central staircase that leads to a mezzanine level, as well as a rooftop terrace with views of the city.

Name: The Market on Main

Year Built: 2019

Location: Lagos, Nigeria

Size: 10,000 square feet

Architect: tbd

Store design: Vibrant and welcoming, with a mix of local and international products. The interior features a large central staircase that leads to a mezzanine level, as well as a rooftop terrace with views of the city.

Mall of Africa, Johannesburg, South Africa

by RMJM. This shopping mall is the largest in Africa and was awarded the gold medal in the Shopping Center category at the 2016 Shop! Association Design Awards. The mall is located in Johannesburg, South Africa and features a unique design that incorporates elements of African culture.

Name: Mall of Africa

Year Built: 2016

Location: Johannesburg, South Africa

Size: 130,000 square meters (1,400,000 square feet)

Architect: RMJM

Store design: Incorporates elements of African culture

Trending Retail Stores in Asia

Explore the latest trends in retail store design and architecture in Asia, from the most innovative new concepts to the most popular brands. This article features a roundup of the top trending retail stores in Asia, with insights into what makes them so successful

Apple ION Orchard, Singapore

This Apple store is located in the heart of Singapore's Orchard Road shopping district. It was designed by Foster + Partners and won the Retail Asia Award for Best Retail Interior in 2019. The store is notable for its use of glass and steel, which create a sense of openness and transparency.

Name: Mall of Africa

Year Built: 2016

Location: Johannesburg, South Africa

Size: Largest shopping mall in Africa

Architect: RMJM

Store design: Unique design that incorporates elements of African culture

IKEA Hefei, China

This IKEA store is located in Hefei, China. It was designed by Ingka Group and won the Retail Asia Award for Best Sustainable Retail Project in 2021. The store is notable for its use of sustainable materials, such as bamboo and recycled wood. It also features a green roof that helps to reduce the store's carbon footprint.

Name: IKEA Hefei, China

Year Built: 2021

Location: Hefei, China

Size: 100,000 square meters

Architect: Ingka Group

Store design: The store design is inspired by the natural beauty of the surrounding area. The use of sustainable materials and the green roof help to create a store that is both beautiful and environmentally friendly.

Shin Kong Mitsukoshi Department Store, Taiwan

This Shin Kong Mitsukoshi department store is located in Taipei, Taiwan. It was designed by Gensler and won the Retail Asia Award for Best Department Store in 2023. The store is notable for its use of technology, such as facial recognition and augmented reality, to create a more personalized shopping experience.

Name: Shin Kong Mitsukoshi Department Store, Taiwan

Year Built: 2023

Location: Taipei, Taiwan

Size: 1 million square feet

Architect: Gensler

Store design: The store is designed to be a seamless blend of physical and digital experiences. Customers can use facial recognition to access their online shopping profiles and augmented reality to see how products would look in their homes. The store also features a number of interactive displays and exhibits that showcase the latest technology.