An Eye for Detail: Lunet Boutique by Bogdan Ciocodeica Studio.

Generally speaking, the idea is that you leave an eyewear store or optometrist with better vision than before, however, in the case of Lunet Boutique by Bogdan Ciocodeica Studio, ‘vision’ might mean more than just eyesight. Located in Bucharest, Romania, Lunet (meaning, ‘Little Moon’) is something rather out of this world, as the interior pays homage to both the past and future almost simultaneously, with the air of an older, traditional eyewear store (read: colour palette) juxtaposed with space-age material and lighting choices.

Perhaps most notable is the timber detailing in the casework across the store—this pixel-perfect stripping down of shapes is a clever play and commentary on blurry vision, as all sharp edges have been reduced (or enhanced) to resemble pixelated blockwork cut-outs of the cabinetry. There is the idea that only the essential is displayed and that the focus really is on the eyewear, displayed on stark and luminous shelves, embedded in the almost stout timber cabinets.

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This clean aesthetic translates to the larger stand-alone mirrored displays, which offer another optical illusion as the mirrors become both a place to test out the eyewear and to seemingly extend the range of options at hand. Alongside the reflective material, the use of brushed steel adds to the industrial-cool feel of it all and through contrast, further enhances the warmth of the surrounding material and colour palette.

As if front-row at Balenciaga, the soft-hued latex curtains offer relief in the timber casework, adding a further play on poor eyesight and low-def vision with its translucency. The mild warmth from the pinkish hues of the optometrists’ curtains is picked up by the heat of the burnt sienna rug and terracotta grouting of the pixel tiling underneath. The rug offers a further extension of the Minecraft-esque details dotted throughout, with rectangular cut-outs offering a peek at what lies below.

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These sunset tones are further displayed in the testing rooms, where the burnt orange walls bookend a playful mural that takes the stress out of reading ‘ E, F, P, T’—or whatever your eyes might be deceiving you into seeing that day.

The custom-designed approach to the space, evident in the repetition of the casework cut-out details and central armchairs, allows for a sense of purpose and identity throughout the space. This balanced, push-and-pull attitude to interior design illustrates how restrained spatial planning and a lateral approach to detailing can bring the user experience into focus in the blink of an eye.

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[Images courtesy of Bogdan Ciocodeica Studio. Photography by Vlad Patru.]