Valencia-based design practice Clap Studio has reflected the volcanic landscape of Hawaii in a new fashion store developed for fashion brand, ALOHAS, in Barcelona, Spain.

Named ALOHAS flagship Store, the 100-square-metre store is located in the iconic street of Rambla Catalunya, Barcelona. The store represents the brand's first store opened in Barcelona.

The interiors are enriched with textured surfaces, mirrors, and cave-like details evoking "the lava tubes, those volcanic caves formed by the flow and subsequent cooling of lava." 

The design takes into consideration ALOHAS's new visual identity, which has a bolder and stronger aesthetic. After dominating the digital world, ALOHAS takes a significant step towards offline commerce with this flagship.

The studio took inspiration for the design from ALOHAS's own past—it was first established in Hawaii, which is also where the name came from. 

Clap Studio made the decision to abandon the paradisiacal and "clean" beach aesthetic that is typically associated with Hawaii in favor of an aggressive and brutalist landscape that symbolizes the archipelago.

The design is reminiscent of Hawaii's volcanic terrain, particularly the lava tubes—volcanic caverns created by the flowing and then cooling of lava.

"The surface of a lava river, over time, cools and hardens, creating underground rivers that, after the eruption, transform into tunnels with a magical appearance. This geological concept has been the cornerstone of our design," explained Àngela Montagud, director of Clap.

Presenting itself as a volcanic grotto, the ALOHAS flagship blends the harshness of the natural world with the elegance of design. The metal furniture's harsh, angular shapes evoke the fury of lava, standing in stark contrast to the store's calm interior design.

The ceiling lights symbolize the gaps that gradually form in these tunnels' roofs, re-establishing their connection to their surroundings. The contrast between the aggressive and the refined effectively conveys the dual nature of ALOHAS's new brand while providing customers with an engaging and distinctive shopping experience.

"ALOHAS, the fashion brand that has conquered the digital world, takes a decisive step towards offline commerce with their first physical store, encapsulating its essence in a space that invites customers to explore and discover, reflecting its journey from the online to the physical world," said the studio.

"With this design, Clap Studio has not only created a retail space but an interior landscape that captures the identity and vision of ALOHAS," the studio added.

Floor plan

Sections

Sections

Clap Studio completed the ABBE Showroom with pastel-toned interiors with colorful floral installations in Valencia, Spain. The firm designed the interiors of a restaurant that mimics a sunset on the beach with colorful components, materials and colors. 

Clap Studio was founded by Jordi Iranzo and Àngela Montagud in 2017 in Valencia. The young studio, operating worldwide, is focused on the design of experiences through interiors, product and artistic installations.

Project facts

Project name: ALOHAS Flagship Store

Designers: Clap Studio

Client: ALOHAS 

Area: 100m2

Location: Rambla Catalunya 113, Barcelona 08008

All images © José Hevia. 

All drawings © Clap Studio.

> via Clap Studio

Barcelona Clap Studio flagship Hawaii