studio mk27: decameron

‘decameron’ by studio mk27, são paulo, brazil image © pedro vannucchi

brazilian architect marcio kogan of studio mk27 has received the world’s best shopping building award from the world architecture festival for ‘decameron’, a retail store in são paolo, brazil. the economic solution to a rented site and limited budget, the displays of this shop are placed within two rows of stacked shipping containers which are oriented perpendicular to the main street. the bold and vibrant colors painted on the external surfaces are revealed when a series of large and translucent sliding doors of the metal warehouse structure are unfolded during the store’s hours of operation.

large sliding doors close the facade to the street image © pedro vannucchi

products are lined along the walls of the narrow hallways, limited by the inherent dimensions of the container units. an arrangement of furniture within the adjoining clear span structure allows visitors to experience the products of the company. near the rear of the plot, a courtyard garden with planted palm trees and pebble ground cover creates a serene atmosphere to buffer the offices from the common areas. bound with a glass wall, designers may overlook the activity within the store. at night, the polycarbonate panels glow from the interior showing shadows of people moving within the showroom.

entry facade when store is closed image © pedro vannucchi

(left) stacked row of shipping containers (right) extended facade comprised of shipping containers image © pedro vannucchi

outwardview at night image © pedro vannucchi

open air courtyard image © pedro vannucchi

gallery bordering courtyard image © pedro vannucchi

interior space bordering shipping container galleries image © pedro vannucchi

view of street from interior image © pedro vannucchi

street elevation open image © pedro vannucchi

street elevation closed image © pedro vannucchi