Tactile & Familiar: Holzweiler Copenhagen Flagship by Snøhetta.

Photo by Magnus Nordstrand.

Photo by Magnus Nordstrand.

Photo by Magnus Nordstrand.

Photo by Magnus Nordstrand.

Snøhetta has designed the first international retail space for Norway cool-girl-fashion-brand Holzweiler, taking the brand’s unique Norwegian ethos abroad with a considered approach to materiality and experience.

Located in the heart of Copenhagen, a sense of tranquillity reigns when stepping into the store from the busy street. A compact ground-floor room with large windows floods the interior with natural light and showcases neutral finishes. The interior takes cues from the brand’s overarching conceptual approach, named ‘Traces’, creating an experience that is reminiscent of a memory or feeling that remains.

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Photo by Magnus Nordstrand.

Photo by Magnus Nordstrand.

Photo by Magnus Nordstrand.

Photo by Magnus Nordstrand.

Photo by Magnus Nordstrand.

At the core of material choices lies both function and sustainability. Clay and wood are the two main materials used, with Snøhetta aiming to reuse as much as possible from the previous fitout—both floors and ceiling are preserved as they were.

In the centre of the space stands a sculptural piece, designed collaboratively with artist Ingeborg Riseng, made from a rough-to-touch clay surface. A curved oak veneer partition wraps around as a backdrop to the new fitout. Timber walls guide one through the shop and around the hand-clad clay sculpture, articulating a circular flow around the products and offering unexpected surprises along the way.

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Photo by Rasmus Luckmann.

Photo by Magnus Nordstrand.

Photo by Magnus Nordstrand.

Photo by Magnus Nordstrand.

Behind the organic walls are the fitting rooms, located furthest from the street for privacy. They are defined by colourful curtains, designed with the Danish designers Tronhjem Rømer and inspired by the Norwegian sky.

Snøhetta applied the same guidelines they used for the materiality to the custom lighting design. Working in close collaboration with the product design team, existing tooling capabilities were mixed with standardised products, leading to an all-new design developed in conjunction with lighting manufacturer Ateljé Lyktan. To contrast the soft earthiness that dominates the space, the lighting solution adds an industrial and contrasting aspect to the interior, guiding customers through the experience of the Holzweiler store visit.

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[Images courtesy of Snøhetta. Photography by Magnus Nordstrand & Rasmus Luckmann.]