MUJI’s first store in the Pacific Northwest brings the Japanese brand’s principles of simplicity, quality and minimalism into dialogue with the character of Portland. Designed by Tokyo-based Super Potato, the 1,020 sqm interior uses reclaimed local timber, an unconventional merchandising layout and community-oriented spaces to create an environment conceived around the experience of the MUJI philosophy.
Rather than relying on a standardised retail format, the project establishes a connection with its location through materials and elements associated with the city and its community.
Reclaimed timber as an architectural element
One of the defining features of the interior is the extensive use of antique timber recovered from local wooden buildings. Beams, posts and boards are assembled throughout the store to form substantial architectural structures that also support the display of MUJI products.
The reclaimed elements are composed almost as installations in their own right. Their irregular surfaces, scale and visible patina introduce a material character that contrasts with the restrained design of the products and the more neutral surfaces of the store.
Super Potato also reconsidered the conventional organisation of retail aisles. Instead of relying exclusively on parallel rows of shelving, merchandising elements are positioned diagonally, opening wider views across the interior and allowing customers to perceive different product areas as they move through the space.
Retail and local community
The relationship with Portland extends beyond the choice of materials. Used tools collected locally were incorporated into a wall installation, introducing objects associated with the local community into the visual language of the store.
The concept also included a coffee bar designed to host different roasters on a rotating basis, as well as a bicycle delivery service for MUJI products.
Spaces providing local information are integrated alongside information about the brand, while an open area accommodates events and other activities. Distributed throughout the store, these functions were intended to generate the informal atmosphere of a market and encourage interaction beyond conventional shopping.
Through the combination of retail displays, reclaimed materials, information and event spaces, the project interprets MUJI’s identity in relation to its Portland setting, turning the store into a place for product discovery as well as exchange and experience.
Design: Super Potato Co., Ltd
Designer: Shinya Maeda
Location: Portland, Oregon, USA
Area: 1,020 sqm
Photo credit: David Papazian
by: AN Shopfitting Magazine n.149 ©