“A retail interior shaped not by excess, but by precision, where subtraction becomes the foundation for spatial clarity, function, and sustainable impact”

The Chimi Stockholm flagship store reimagines what retail design can be when driven by reduction rather than accumulation.The interior is guided by a principle of refined subtraction, a design strategy that values what already exists before introducing anything new.

The site had been layered with years of temporary additions that disrupted spatial flow and clarity. The first design move was to strip these away, exposing the original architecture, especially the staircase and overall volume. This act of careful removal became a method for uncovering spatial logic, not erasure. From this rediscovered structure, new elements were added sparingly and precisely, enhancing rather than overwhelming. The result is a space where subtraction reveals potential, and addition serves only to sharpen it.

A singular parabolic curve, first introduced in Chimi’s New York flagship, defines the sculptural cashier’s desk and subtly guides circulation throughout the space. Its sweeping form connects key functions, integrates discreet POS units, and becomes a recognisable spatial anchor. The architecture is both functional and symbolic, bridging the store’s retail and optometric services with seamless clarity.

Materiality was selected for its sensory and environmental intelligence: warm grey lime plaster (VOC-free and biodegradable), burgundy stucco, and anodised aluminium made from 96% recycled content. These choices reduce carbon footprint while offering durability, texture, and calm. Construction followed low-impact methods, preserving the existing stair structure and minimising waste through efficient fabrication and targeted intervention.

In a world defined by overproduction, the Chimi Stockholm interior makes a case for design through precision, reuse, and restraint. It is a retail space that demonstrates how creativity emerges not from more, but from knowing when less is enough—and when design must listen before it speaks.