kengo kuma renovates camper's barcelona store using vaulted ceramic plates

after designing a camper store in milan, kengo kuma has completed the renovation of a second retail space for the spanish shoe company — this time in barcelona. facing the plaza catalonia, camper paseo de gracia incorporates a revolutionary catalan method of construction which uses vaulted ceramic plates as the form-work of floor slabs.

all images and video by imagen subliminal (miguel de guzman + rocio romero)

kuma has chosen the ground-breaking concept of the vault, which was also a great point of reference for catalan architect antoni gaudi throughout his works, as the main visual feature of the barcelona camper store. the ceramic vault has been used here as the basic unit of the furniture, from shelves, to benches, and counters for the shoes, resulting in a warm and friendly atmosphere which reflects the culture of catalonia.

project info:

architect: kengo kuma and associates

name: camper paseo de gracia

location: barcelona, spain

type: retail

total floor area: 80 m2

partners in charge: kengo kuma, javier villar ruiz

project team: jaime fernandez calvache (pm), nicola maniero, ludovica cirillo, kimio suzuki (visualizations)

client: camper

contractor: norden gse, s.l.u.

lighting designer: viabizzuno

ceramist: ceramica cumella