Sony Center

In situ designed the ‘Sony Center’ in Bucharest, Romania.

Description from the architects:

Completed in April 2008, Sony Center showroom opened in a big commercial center in Bucharest, Romania. It was a pilot project for Sony Center chane stores spread nationwide. The second shop oppened in Brasov.

The shop area is 150 sqm(18 m x 8.3 m). The 18 m glass wall separates the shop from the commercial gallery circulation. There is no shopping window – the shop itself has this function. The space transforms as an instrument, a mechanism of exposure. All the three walls left are covered with a fluid white plane with display panels inserted. Also all structural elements at the back wall are integrated in this ribbon. The heating elements are treated in the same manner, but with surface perforated, allowing air circulation.

Back wall of the show-room is also the exterior wall of the building with windows with the view to an unspectacular inner court, it also diminishes the exposure area. The fire regulations did’t allow to cover them. In this situation the exposure pannels are 30 cm detached from this wall to allow natural ventilation, covering unwanted widow elements entirely.

The three next to glass wall columns are being turned into big exposure islands with clearly delimitated, round spaces for branding. All technical and electrical pannels are also hidden behind this white fluid covering. Besides the direct spot lights the space is illuminated by a soft light coming out of the big round cornered rectangles 2m x 0,6m in the ceiling which have dual function – the light source and ceiling acces trap to a technncal space above. Ventilation grilles, 60cm in diameter, are harmoniously integrated in the ceiling design.

The floor is covered with epoxy resins of white colour with a layer of black cercles over, which delimitates the circulation area. The characteristic verb of this concept is display, as a functional purpose. The products are placed in frames, like paintings that come forward and compose an exhibition. This ‘bring forward’ movement is enhanced by the three-dimensional frames. The space shows itself in every aspect but color. This attribute belongs to the exposed objects, enveloped in light as the true leading actors of the show.