journal
09 / 09 / 2022
Zara presents its latest brand image in Porto, in one of the most emblematic commercial spaces in Portugal: the iconic store on Rua de Santa Catarina, the first that the brand opened outside Spain in 1988.
The historic establishment reopens after an extensive process of expansion and refurbishment, which focused on highlighting the classified elements of the building, such as its neoclassical style facade, and equipping the commercial space with the latest technological innovations from the integrated platform of physical stores and online from Zara.
On the outside, the renovation led by Zara's architecture team included the restoration of original ornaments, such as the balconies or stonework on the windows, among other elements. The building has been stripped of some decorative elements that have been added over time, such as the double columns at the entrance. The result is a clean, translucent space that illuminates the store's foyer with natural light, the select store to present the brand's latest collections.
On the outside, the renovation led by Zara's architecture team included the restoration of original ornaments, such as the balconies or stonework on the windows, among other elements. The building has been stripped of some decorative elements that have been added over time, such as the double columns at the entrance. The result is a clean, translucent space that illuminates the store's foyer with natural light, the select store to present the brand's latest collections.
The extensive renovation project and the expansion of the interior spaces aimed to provide a maximum visual opening from any angle, always having natural light as a reference that reaches the interior of the store's three floors through the facade's balconies. The 4,000 m2 of the built area of the new store includes a new commercial floor in addition to the two pre-existing ones, extensively displaying, on three feet, all the women's, men's, and children's fashion collections. The space where fashion and technology coexist was conceived as a predominantly white, clean, and neutral container, giving prominence to the original elements recovered in the project, such as the exposed stone wall that crosses the entire building from the ground floor. The furniture's wood and the textiles' tones provide notes of warmth and natural contrast to the environment.
The flagship store has new specific commercial areas dedicated to the brand's most recent launches, such as the Lingerie line, the Athleticz sports equipment collection, and Footwear and Accessories areas in the Women's section. These boutique spaces, with distinctive designs and furniture, are equipped with adjacent spare areas that facilitate personalized customer assistance.
The flagship store has new specific commercial areas dedicated to the brand's most recent launches, such as the Lingerie line, the Athleticz sports equipment collection, and Footwear and Accessories areas in the Women's section. These boutique spaces, with distinctive designs and furniture, are equipped with adjacent spare areas that facilitate personalized customer assistance.