Design with equal emphasis on craftsmanship and technology has become a beacon outdoor experience, Architecture Studio Today we are talking to you. In his comments, we see salt crystal structures typical of Mediterranean reservoirs. Stairs and Barcelona Sail Viewpoint; Experimental flagships provided by It combines 3D printed sculptural walls with an interactive mapping layer; or six plants WOW comment, a contemporary retail scene stealing all the attention from Madrid’s Gran Via. There’s no doubt: we’re talking about a project that exudes creativity, technology and innovation from every pore.
New by Store Designed by Outdoor References
Barcelona, ​​Madrid and Moscow. The External Reference was developed by a multidisciplinary team of 30 experts from over 15 countries. Carmelo Sapulla, founder of the studio, faculty member of IAAC (Institute of Advanced Architecture of Catalonia) and director of the Master in Experiential Design at LCI Barcelona, ​​collaborator of international architecture schools and institutions. University of Strathclyde, WSA (The Welsh School of Architecture) and Department of Architecture at Cardiff University, Wales, United Kingdom. With a resume like that, it’s no surprise to be tempted to create emotional spaces beyond the physical.
External references seek to live in a constant state of exploration of ideas and new ideas, and for them the work of an architect must go further, knowing how to interpret their social, cultural and technological environment, reflecting and adapting them to the external. conditions. Their vision and the uniqueness of their customers are key factors, so they try to adapt different cultural aspects to their needs. as? Creating aha experiences, where Immersion, customization, ingenuity, design and technology are the main factors.
Stairs and view of Vela de Barcelona designed by exterior references
The result of each project integrates cultural aspects, creating ER Interactive adventures for your customers, combines the advantages of current technology to enhance the experience, but without losing focus on the physical world. Isn’t the emotional side always the best way to connect with people? To this we can add a strong effort to authentically communicate the values, culture and aspirations of the brands they work with. And the race Digital installations They manage to introduce us to a limitless virtual world so that visiting a shop, restaurant or event moves us and makes us live a memorable journey.
As a studio, they work as widely as possible in various fields: from exhibitions transformed into interactive landscapes, retail enriched by virtual and augmented reality or from the architecture of the space to the culinary experience, for example, to the culinary experience of the gastronomic project. , the treatment of choice. For a spa or interaction in the lobby of a luxury hotel. They blend craftsmanship and technology in a single chandelier, but they integrate their buildings into the architecture and local environment, combining aesthetic beauty with sustainability.
The VICIO Burgers and La Manzo stores in Barcelona are designed with outdoor references
Focus and personalize each project Craftsmanship 2.0. (which, as we said, combines tradition with technology), is one of the main points of its method: always respecting a classic design, but adding contemporary techniques in a delicate process of innovation. They manage to execute custom pieces in a unique way. Constantly inspired by their Mediterranean heritage and Italian artisans specializing in luxury products, they use Murano glassblowing, among other techniques. They use CNC milling machines for detailed pieces, advanced manufacturing, allowing simple components and building materials to be transformed into super attractive creative shapes. With 3D printing, they let their imagination run wild and create molds that turn their most innovative designs into physical objects.
The first floor and restaurant of the WOW concept shopping center in Madrid
One of his latest works, as we said, The Madrid Store WOW Concept, Located in a historic building in Gran VÃa, where Hotel Roma was born in 1915, is a shopping center that has little to do with a typical shopping center. Now, it has been transformed into a space maintained to the smallest detail, where they display their catalog – brands of the native-digital era that cannot be found in other physical stores – very Cold And unconventional across 6 floors of retail. They invite you to discover the products thanks to different sensory experiences that change depending on the site you are on and, of course, depending on the season.
In the basement there is a section of technical products; From the first to the third floor we immerse ourselves in the world of fashion, thanks to different digital narratives, with free aesthetics and concepts, we even discover a catwalk; The fifth and sixth floors are dedicated to metaverse-inspired aesthetics and host avatars. On the top floor, the suite of the hotel’s former owner, The Restaurant Penthouse by Wow. All of WOW’s structures and interior elements are ephemera, removable covers and furniture that are considered independent art installations that respect the historical heritage.
Pure Plants is a family of plants 3D printed using PURE.TECH
External reference focuses his work on scientific research and is fueled by a strong and abiding interest. Integration of design and technology and its impact on our daily lives. His projects explore design, architecture and art, but his practice goes further, touching on interests such as mathematics, biology, computer science and physics. It’s worth looking at their portfolio to see how these sectors stack up Innovation and creativity without barriers.
