At PANE Shenzhen Bay, say architects explores the tension between everyday ease and the ceremonial nature of competition. The 140 sqm store is organised as a sequence of contrasting but connected environments, where domestic comfort, sporting references and classical architectural motifs shape a retail design rooted in both familiarity and ritual.
Located at MixC (Phase II) in Shenzhen’s Nanshan District, the project reflects PANE’s approach to footwear: refined materials, traditional craftsmanship and contemporary silhouettes brought together through a spatial language that moves between classical order and present-day living.
A storefront shaped by classical order
The exterior sets the tone through a composition based on rhythm, symmetry and material contrast. A horizontal black metal cornice carries the PANE logo in gold, while evenly spaced vertical elements recall the triglyphs of Greek architecture.
An architrave and columns in Oya stone give the entrance a strong sense of permanence. Rather than recreating a historical language, these references establish a measured architectural framework for the contemporary interior beyond.
Lounge: domestic warmth and everyday ease
The L-shaped plan follows the corner condition of the site and opens first onto the Lounge, conceived as the more relaxed side of the store. Pale timber furniture, low tables and deep-blue seating create an atmosphere that recalls a domestic interior rather than a conventional retail setting.
Large wall units and open shelving frame the footwear display, while cabinets with louvred doors introduce a more intimate gesture. Opening them reveals the collection in a way that recalls looking through a personal wardrobe, reinforcing the sense of informality that defines this part of the store.
A large paper pendant, rug and low furniture soften the composition, while the saturated blue upholstery introduces a strong visual counterpoint to the pale wood and neutral surfaces.
Arena: a more disciplined spatial character
Further inside, the mood changes. The Arena is defined by darker timber veneers, deeper tones and a more restrained spatial language. Here, the atmosphere becomes more focused, with a subtle reference to preparation, performance and competition.
The wall displays draw on the visual logic of training-room lockers, but their open structure is adapted to footwear presentation. Adjustable shelving allows the system to respond to different product arrangements without altering the overall architectural order.
At the centre, streamlined benches provide a quiet pause within the sequence and preserve a clear longitudinal view through the space. Trophies placed above the displays reinforce the competitive theme without turning the Arena into an overt sporting set.
Materials that record the passage of time
Classical references reappear in smaller architectural details. The fitting-room anteroom is crowned by a dome decorated with PANE’s signature graphic motifs, while brass is used throughout the project as a material intended to evolve rather than remain visually unchanged.
Oxidation, surface variation and traces of use are accepted as part of the store’s material character. Time is treated as a co-author of the interior, allowing finishes to develop gradually through contact, ageing and everyday use.
This approach reflects PANE’s interest in the lifecycle of objects and adds another layer to a project otherwise defined by proportion, order and contrasting atmospheres.
Between ease and competition
The Lounge and Arena establish two distinct identities within the same store. One is warmer, more domestic and informal; the other is darker, more controlled and closely linked to the idea of performance.
The transition between them gives PANE Shenzhen Bay its particular character: a retail interior suspended between everyday life and ceremony, domestic warmth and competitive energy, classical order and contemporary living.
Location: MixC (Phase II), Nanshan District, Shenzhen, Guangdong
Area: 140 sqm
Design: say architects
Photography: Wen Studio