# Zara's new Shanghai store reflects the future of physical retail Designed by AIM Architecture, the store brings together commerce, culture and community. - **Source:** [Interior design | Dezeen](https://brifing.si/source/cb2e5f17-36d4-4880-b1ae-26168d46e00a) - **Published:** 2026-08-20 - **Topic:** [Business](https://brifing.si/c/business) - **Original article:** - **On Brifing:** https://brifing.si/s/a34a0726-4d55-4647-a8aa-bb8181b73bd9 ## Architectural Approach AIM Architecture transformed a five-story concrete building in Shanghai's famous Huaihai Road district into Zara's new flagship store. Instead of imposing a new identity, the design team preserved the building's existing concrete structure, proportions and spatial logic, allowing the architecture itself to shape the experience. This approach reflects Zara's evolution toward more open, flexible and immersive environments. ## Street Connection The ground floor facade was opened up with a stepped brick podium extending onto the street. This amphitheater-like structure, planted with green shrubs and sheltered by the building, invites passersby to sit and rest. A similar brick podium was created inside the store near the entrance, visually connecting the interior with the exterior public space. ## Collection Presentation Zara's collections are spread across the building's five floors, each displayed in interiors suited to different styles. The TRF collection occupies a contemporary warehouse-like space, while the main women's fashion collection is presented in an art gallery environment. The menswear floor is divided into two spaces: a craftsmanship-celebrating atelier and a contemporary Shanghai loft with domestic appeal. ## Material Choices Exposed structural columns, polished concrete floors and concrete cassette ceilings create a raw, industrial atmosphere, while timber and linen add warmth and tactility. Fitting rooms are covered in mirrors for an immersive feel. Lightweight, adaptable furniture allows for flexible seasonal display changes throughout the store. ## Staircase Design AIM Architecture retained the building's existing staircase but redesigned it with a more sculptural form. Concrete steps are paired with a black textured-steel railing wrapped in serrated concrete at the lower end. A thin lighting tube hangs at the center of the stairwell, illuminating what would otherwise be a dark space. ## Commerce Meets Culture The project transforms a commercial building into a contemporary public interior rooted in Shanghai's life. According to AIM Architecture, Zara Huaihai Road reflects a broader vision for physical retail's future, creating destinations where commerce, culture and community converge in meaningful ways. ## Design Team and Awards Founded in 2005 by Belgian and Dutch architects Wendy Saunders and Vincent de Graaf, AIM Architecture has offices in Shanghai, Antwerp, Hong Kong and Chicago. The studio won Interior Designer of the Year at Dezeen Awards China 2023. Previous China projects include a Chengdu resort with sweeping tentacle-like canopies and a Changzhou community park repurposed from oil silos. ## The Future of Physical Retail Zara Huaihai Road serves as a significant example of how physical retail experiences might evolve. By embracing rather than replacing existing architecture, it creates spaces where consumers don't just shop but experience. This approach demonstrates the potential for brands to transform physical stores into cultural and social gathering points beyond mere sales venues. ## Sources covering this story - https://www.dezeen.com/2026/08/20/aim-architecture-zara-flagship-shanghai/ — --- _Summary written by Brifing from the original reporting. Copyright in the original article belongs to its publisher; read the full piece at the link above._