The interiors of an abandoned plane have been converted into a retail store clad in full orange colour in Alor Gajah, Melaka, Malaysia.

The project, named Coach Airways Store and Café, was designed by Shanghai and Kuala Lumpur-based architecture practice Spacemen and Coach New York to provide the sense of illustrious golden era of air travel in the 1970s.

The 420-square-metre project was envisioned as a revamp of interiors of an abandoned Boeing 747 jumbo jet. The design adds a retro-futuristic ode to 1970s air travel.

The orange color is enhanced with bright lights and clean and pastel-toned surfaces and details. 

The store has also a small cafe shaped in rounded-like volume at the back side of the plane.

In the front section of the plane there is the first class cabin that serves as a store, while other sections include retail class cabin 1 and retail class cabin 2, which are used as the extension of the store.

At the back side, there is the Coach Airways Cafe to serve its customers. Cashier and store rooms are placed it between retail class cabin 2 and cafe.

"The plane’s design pays homage to the illustrious golden era of air travel in the 1970s, weaving in elements of retro-futurism for a one-of-a-kind experience," said Spacemen. 

"The aircraft houses four experiential cabins with design cues and a color palette that would look perfectly at home in a Wes Anderson's movie set," the firm added.

Embarking on a journey with Coach Airways begins in the First Class Cabin. Here travelers are greeted with a 2 seater faux pilot cockpit, accompanied by 12 retro passenger seats where guests can indulge in the fantasy of commanding an aircraft whilst enjoying first class service. 

Gridded glass flooring with warm lighting and membrane ceiling lights brings a sleek aesthetic flair to create a sense of balance between the old and new. 

As the journey continues, the Second and Third Cabins reveal themselves as thoughtfully curated retail spaces. The curved cabin walls in pastel colors is a fusion of nostalgic, fun, and immersive shopping journey. 

The heart of the aircraft however beats in the Fourth Cabin, housing the enchanting Coach Airways Cafe. Drenched in full orange this space invites passengers to indulge in delectable treats and unwind, surrounded by an ambiance that evokes the essence of a bygone era.

A Time-Traveling Marvel in the Skies, Coach Airways transports visitors to an era where air travel was synonymous with sophistication and grace. 

Seamlessly blending the enchantment of the 1970s golden age with the allure of retro-futurism, this Boeing 747 venture offers an unforgettable experience that celebrates the beauty of design and the magic of aviation. 

Step aboard and embark on a timeless journey of elegance, as Coach Airways redefines the boundaries of design and storytelling within the wings of an iconic aircraft.

Axonometric programme functions

Spacemen previously designed a beauty store that features soft delicate weaves made of soft white layers of fabric to reflect the brand's first product in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. 

The firm designed the Urban Bloom Store that looks like "an abstraction of a living tree" in Putrajaya, Malaysia.

Project facts

Project name: Coach Airways Store and Café

Architects: Coach New York and Spacemen Studio

Location: Alor Gajah, Melaka, Malaysia.

Lead Architects: Edward Tan 

Completion Year: 2023

Gross Built Area (square meters): 420m2

All images © David Yeow Photography.

All drawings © Coach New York and Spacemen Studio. 

> via Spacemen Studio

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