El for Sam
Location: Spiridi & Sokratous, Volos, Greece
Project year: 2017
The store for women’s and men’s underwear and accessories “El for Sam” is located at the crossroads of Spiridi and Socratous streets in the commercial center of Volos. It is a store that is housed in an existing building and is structured on two levels.
Maintaining the existing structures created a space inherent in the needs of today, the market orders and the wishes of the owner. A space that is flexible, with slides and smooth lines. In particular, having as a basic design principle, the space is the basis for better product development, the architectural interventions concern the creation of a clean “background” space.
The two faces consist of large glass windows offering transparency and immediacy with the interior of the store. Elements of the wearer are used to place the name plates, while the coronation is lined with metal blinds defining the shop’s outline.
In the interior, the combination of natural materials (cement and wood) with metals creates the right setting for the promotion of the products to be sold. In the “cute defect” of natural woods, small surprises, such as pebbles, are added, creating a fine surface that makes for experiential contact. At the same time, for the better promotion and storage of the different products, handmade furniture with the ability to transform them, were constructed, allowing the perpetual change of the layout of the space. With a rope composition and hooks hanging from the roof, metal wreaths were mounted that act as floating “showcases” for the most “highly challenging” products. The height of these “showcases” change reinforcing the three-dimensional view of the store.
In particular, as it concerns the ground floor furniture, where the women’s collection is hosted and the largest volume of goods is concentrated, there are large benches, drawers and suspension beams. In the loft, where the men’s collection is housed, there is a “bed-sitting” over the closets and drawers.
The rise in the loft is achieved through the “three-step” ladder. The structure of the ladder serves, in addition to the accessibility of the loft, to the best exposure of part of the products, as in the lower part of the shop there are showcases, and to the creation of a small living room. Combined, metal handrails allow the hanging of various goods.
The main concern was the creation of a modern, luxurious and comfortable space for the display of unique goods, which will predispose the consumer to visit him.
