NMD nomadas references origami to design free-standing supermarket in venezuela

NMD nomadas references origami to design free-standing supermarket in venezuela
all images courtesy of luis ontiveros

built on one of the busiest streets of maracaibo, venezuela, ‘de candido express’ supermarket was created by NMD nomadas. the concept’s aim was to imprint the brand’s attributes (simplicity, firmness, versatility and continuity), into the design of the supermarket and to make the structure adaptable to different means and urban situations.

a freestanding structure was the solution to make ‘de candido’ express supermarket stand out

searching for continuity and coherence in their express markets, ‘de candido’ sought to find a position where they could differentiate themselves. a freestanding building was then envisioned and the result was that of an origami-like roof with no attached vertical walls. the simplicity, softness and firmness, and versatility of the japanese folding paper technique followed the same ideas they were looking for.

the exterior of the supermarket lets the curious get a glimpse of the inside from the outside

to achieve the replicability, a sandwich sheet of steel pre-painted in white was created in a rectangular squared shape as the manufacturing base, guaranteeing to create, just like with origami, simple to highly complex models. with this solution, ‘de candido’ can build a large number of express supermarkets, that can accommodate to the specific land were they’re being placed, with the same ‘folding paper’ technique.

view of the entrance to the supermarket and an aisle

the interior is divided by colored fringes that demarcate the different areas of use. on the other hand, the lighting design was created to stand out from the industrial general look, emphasizing the aisles and generating an homogenous significance between them. the supermarket lets the people who are not inside to get a glimpse of what’s happening inside, inviting the curious ones to come in.

for the eating areas, cylindrical lamps were placed to erase the supermarket feel

a variety of colors were used to differentiate the many uses of the space

the supermarket has a general industrial-like look that is soothed by the lighting

the supermarket’s roof is now one of the brand’s key features

elevation 73 street

floor plan

section a

section b

project info:

project: de candido express supermarket
architecture: NMD nomadas
design directors: farid chacón, francisco mustieles, janeth boza, claudia urdaneta
project leader: vanessa rincón
design team: nicole de candido
landscape architecture adviser: astrid petzold
engineering: innova
marketing adviser: eduardo d’ascoli
construction: vasafe, ca. ing. andrés nanino
graphic design: poroto estudio / alberto sulbarán, jason villa
lighting adviser: área lighting
project year: 2012
construction year: 2012-2013
construction area: 1200 m2 / 12916 sqft
location: maracaibo, venezuela
photographs: luis ontiveros

designboom has received this project from our ‘DIY submissions‘ feature, where we welcome our readers to submit their own work for publication. see more project submissions from our readers here.

edited by: juliana neira | designboom