rafael de cárdenas outfits st. petersburg's au pont rouge with kaleidoscopic interiors

rafael de cárdenas outfits st. petersburg’s au pont rouge with kaleidoscopic interiors
all images courtesy of rafael de cardenas / architecture at large

rafael de cárdenas/architecture at large (RDC/AAL) has completed a vibrant interior scheme in the historic au pont rouge — a 30,000 square foot department store in the center of st. petersburg, russia. located on the third floor where men’s and women’s apparel are held, the setting rebels against the traditional shopping experience by siting changing rooms along its central spine, rather than their usual place at the perimeter. layered walls that feed through the center of the space comprise expanded metal and colored glass, offering glimpses between open zones and more private areas contained within the changing rooms.

large circular voids are interspersed throughout the floor plan, forming areas that can host designer pop-ups, as well as unexpected department store activities such as a temporary tattoo parlors or barber shops. completed in a punchy palette of green, orange and blue, the interior also features a canopy of mirrored, geometric lights and objects overhead, reflecting labyrinthine views of the surrounding environment.

the vibrant interior scheme has been realized within the historic au pont rouge department store

the design by RDC/AAL forms part of a major renovation project for the historic au pont rouge, whose original eight-story art nouveau building was constructed in the early 1900s.

the project in russia has been completed on the heels of rafael de cárdenas’ recognition as maison&objet americas 2016 designer of the year in miami, where he realized a prismatic neon jungle pop-up shop in the design district as part of the event.

a canopy of mirrored, geometric lights and objects are placed overhead