Palmers plans seductive garden-based interiors

Leading European underwear retailer Palmers is to launch a radical, new-look retail concept this autumn, with architecture, interior design and furniture by Universal Design Studio.

A prototype will be unveiled at Palmers’ Vienna headquarters this week, with a store due to open in Graz, Austria, in October. If this is successful, the retailer intends to roll out the concept across selected sites in its estate.

Palmers has more than 300 shops in Austria and 115 across Europe, plus stores in the US, Korea and Chile.

Universal Design Studio was tasked with creating an underwear store for the 21st century that maintained strong links with Palmers’ identity. ‘It developed a very tight brief and wanted to maintain the green [corporate colour],’ says consultancy director Jonathan Clarke.

The resulting garden-based interior features windows printed with a graphic leaf pattern. Stem-like, multi-height display tables with Corian and wood hexagonal tops can be put together to form ‘flowerbeds’.

‘The concept is based on formal and informal gardens, so there are very rigid pieces about form and vistas, and others that are more soft, organic and natural-feeling,’ Clarke explains.

Universal Design Studio beat shortlisted Austrian group AllesWirdGut to the project in February following an initial six-way European pitch. Clarke and fellow directors Edward Barber and Jay Osgerby are creative leads.

Start the discussionStart the discussion
  • Post a comment

Latest articles