continuous blue carpet evokes coastal spain within raúl sánchez’s store interior in ibiza

overhead, volumetric ceiling panels by raúl sánchez architects reflect the hues of the carpet, representing the sky.

thomai tsimpou September 15, 2024 4 min

Raúl Sánchez brings the Cadaqués coves to retail interior

Raúl Sánchez Architects unveils the Polonio flagship store in Ibiza, creating a space that reflects the brand’s deep ties to the coastal village of Cadaqués and its beach-inspired identity. Evoking the essence of the sea and coast, Raúl Sánchez breathes the impression of being in a small cove, into the narrative of the 60-square-meter shop‘s design. Longitudinal racks, coated in rough, sprayed mortar to resemble rocks, run along the entire perimeter of the Polonio flagship store. A continuous blue, long-pile carpet covers the floor, echoing waves with shifting shades of blue, while overhead, volumetric ceiling panels reflect the hues of the carpet and the merchandise, representing the sky. The fitting rooms, finished in turquoise stucco with matching carpets, resemble caves in the sea, enhancing the sense of discovery with each new texture and color.

continuous blue carpet evokes coastal spain within raúl sánchez's store interior in ibiza - 1 — all images by Luis Asín, courtesy of Raúl Sánchez Architects

a three-level space houses the Polonio Ibiza flagship store

Polonio is an up-and-coming clothing brand, tied to summer and the beach, born a few years ago in Cadaqués village on the Catalan Costa Brava, near where Salvador Dalí made his permanent residence. The brand decided to reach out to Raúl Sánchez Architects to design their flagship store in Ibiza. Located in a central pedestrian and commercial area, in a small three-level space, the store’s ground floor features a double-height area at street level, a rear area three steps below, and a mezzanine accessible by a spiral staircase at the back. The Barchelona-based practice uses rock-evoking racks to connect the front street-level area to a lower rear section through a curved curtain that conceals the three fitting rooms.

continuous blue carpet evokes coastal spain within raúl sánchez's store interior in ibiza - 2 — Raúl Sánchez Architects designs the Polonio flagship store in Ibiza

metallic ceiling honors Adolf Loos’ classic interiors

Raúl Sánchez Architects incorporates a sculptural stainless steel counter that anchors the middle of the store like a fisherman’s boat. This counter also doubles as an additional display, promoting fluid circulation around it. By organizing the space along a clear symmetry axis, this piece conceals structural elements, such as pillars, lowered beams, and irregular angles. The racks and ceiling work together to bring coherence and balance to the design. Finally, the metallic double-height ceiling, with its grid-like structure, pays homage to the American Bar by Adolf Loos, blending a classic design reference into the modern, coastal-inspired atmosphere of the store.

continuous blue carpet evokes coastal spain within raúl sánchez's store interior in ibiza - 3 — creating a space that reflects the brand’s deep ties to the coastal village of Cadaqués

continuous blue carpet evokes coastal spain within raúl sánchez's store interior in ibiza - 4 — evoking the essence of the sea and coast, the store gives the impression of being in a small cove

continuous blue carpet evokes coastal spain within raúl sánchez's store interior in ibiza - 5 — longitudinal racks, coated in rough, sprayed mortar to resemble coastal rocks

continuous blue carpet evokes coastal spain within raúl sánchez's store interior in ibiza - 6 — a continuous blue, long-pile carpet covers the floor, evoking waves with shifting shades of blue

raul-sanchez-essence-of-cadaques-coves-60-square-meter-ibiza-flagship-store-designboom-1800-02 — volumetric ceiling panels reflect the colors of the carpet and the merchandise

continuous blue carpet evokes coastal spain within raúl sánchez's store interior in ibiza - 7 — a sculptural stainless steel counter anchors the middle of the store

continuous blue carpet evokes coastal spain within raúl sánchez's store interior in ibiza - 8 — rock-evoking racks connect the front street-level area to a lower rear section through a curved curtain

raul-sanchez-essence-of-cadaques-coves-60-square-meter-ibiza-flagship-store-designboom-1800-03 — the store’s ground floor features a double-height area at street level

Polonio is an up-and-coming clothing brand, tied to summer and the beach the brand decided to reach out to Raúl Sánchez Architects to design their flagship store in Ibiza the ceiling represents the sky located in a central pedestrian and commercial area this counter also doubles as an additional display the racks and ceiling work together to bring coherence and balance to the design a curved curtain that conceals the three fitting rooms this piece conceals structural elements, such as pillars, lowered beams, and irregular angles the racks run along the entire perimeter of the Polonio flagship store organizing the space along a clear symmetry axis enhancing the sense of discovery with each new texture and color a mezzanine is accessible by a spiral staircase at the back finished in turquoise stucco with matching carpets, the fitting rooms resemble caves in the sea the metallic double-height ceiling pays homage to the American Bar by Adolf Loos axonometric drawing by Raúl Sánchez Architects floor plan by Raúl Sánchez Architects section 01 by Raúl Sánchez Architects section 02 by Raúl Sánchez Architects section 03 by Raúl Sánchez Architects

project info:

name: The Polonio Flagship Store

architect: Raúl Sánchez Architects | @raulsanchezarchitects

location: Paseo Vara del Rey 17, Ibiza, Spain
collaborators: Marta Gamiz (architecture), Marés ingenieros (engineering), Diagonal Estructuras (structure)

client: The Polonio

area: 60 sqm (645,8 sqft)

photographer: Luis Asín | @asinluis