future of retail
retail   Southbank, Melbourne
2023


There is an emerging need for significant retail transformation due to declining consumer shopping frequency, vacant spaces, outdated concepts, and an obsolete retail environment. This project follows a proposition, "Nomadic Retail for the Extreme Mobility Future," to create adaptable, affordable environments using placemaking and fluid spatial strategies, serving the responsive, flexible, and diverse needs of future society.

The final design approach is an inflatable structure designed for transport across various sites. It offers a climate-controlled retail space for micro-enterprises and businesses, responding to the responsive and adaptable retail environment and the future climate conditions.


view from outside

view of playing area

The shelter aims to construct a meaningful representation over time, serving as an iconic symbol of innovation and experiential retail. It can function independently or coexist with buildings and streets, extending interiors and connecting adjacent domains, promoting community engagement and idea exchange.


Using durable and sustainable emerging membrane materials, the shelter is inflated and maintained with an electric air fan blower. It incorporates air conditioning and adjustable spatial arrangements to create a comfortable interior environment.
function diagram


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