The MODES Porto Cervo store, designed by Berlin-based architecture studio Gonzalez Haase AAS, occupies 315 sqm across three floors at Promenade du Port. Created for the luxury fashion retailer’s first location in Porto Cervo, the project contrasts the Mediterranean setting with a Nordic-inspired retail design concept based on neutral grey surfaces, cool lighting, metallic curtains and colourful custom displays.
The collaboration between MODES and architects Judith Haase and Pierre Jorge Gonzalez reflects a shared interest in connecting distinctive locations, visual art and spatial design. Rather than reproducing the established aesthetic of the Sardinian destination, the store introduces an autonomous environment conceived as an experience in its own right.
The retail concept reverses Porto Cervo’s Mediterranean identity
Gonzalez Haase AAS responds to Porto Cervo’s colourful architecture and lush vegetation by introducing a composition inspired by Nordic weather conditions. Neutral grey forms and surfaces extend across floors, walls and ceilings, creating a cool architectural shell within the lively setting of Promenade du Port.
Metallic-fibre curtains add movement and reflect light throughout the interior. Their shifting surfaces soften the uniform grey envelope while reinforcing the contrast between the store and the bright coastal environment outside.
Cool lighting defines a uniform atmosphere across the three floors
A continuous lighting system is suspended close to the ceiling, producing an even and cool illumination that recalls the light of Northern European regions. This lighting approach deliberately contradicts the warm climate and visual character generally associated with Sardinia.
Across the entire 315 sqm interior, light contributes to the reversal of Porto Cervo’s established aesthetic. It also provides a neutral setting for the brighter colours and reflective materials used in the display system.
Custom display blocks organise the fashion presentation through colour and form
Large display blocks are distributed across the three floors of the store. Each element has an individual shape and scale and is defined by a palette of one or two colours, allowing the furnishings to remain recognisable from a distance.
Against the grey architectural background, the colourful forms appear to float through the space like buoys in the wide bay of Porto Cervo. This visual reference connects the display concept to the coastal location without reproducing its architectural language directly.
Metal finishes create a neutral backdrop for the MODES collections
The custom-made display surfaces for the MODES collections use several metal treatments, including galvanised, anodised, brushed and highly polished finishes. These reflective surfaces form a second neutral background for the garments while maintaining a restrained presence within the composition.
The contrast between the grey shell, the silver display surfaces and the coloured furnishings establishes a clear visual hierarchy. Product presentation, architecture and custom furniture operate as interconnected parts of the same retail design system.
The gallery-like interior connects retail design and visual art
Working with broad design freedom, Gonzalez Haase AAS creates an animated setting for the international fashion brands presented by MODES. Pierre Jorge Gonzalez describes the project as “an almost gallery-like space”, in which every furnishing element receives a specific shape and a colour code that can be identified from afar.
The store therefore becomes a grey shell within the village of Porto Cervo. Inside it, the colourful display elements act as floating markers, while their silver surfaces provide a neutral support for the retailer’s garments.
Gonzalez Haase AAS
Founded by Pierre Jorge Gonzalez and Judith Haase in 1999, Gonzalez Haase AAS is a Berlin-based studio specialising in architecture, scenography and lighting. Its work includes art installations, luxury retail interiors, residential extensions and the conversion of industrial and art-related spaces.
by AN Shopfitting Magazine no.165 ©Photo courtesy DSL Studio di Delfino Sisto Legnani – Melania Dalle Grave e Agnese Bedini