Shopping is about more than transactions. For many customers, it's an experience—one that unfolds in thoughtfully designed spaces where they feel genuinely welcome. This expectation extends across all retail, from boutiques to grocery stores. Edeka Hundrieser in Essen understands this perfectly, presenting its markets as carefully curated environments. In early 2022, the prestigious EHI Retail Institute recognized this approach, awarding the Edeka Hundrieser market on Aktienstraße the "EuroShop Retail Design Award"—a distinction that delights Kinzel Architecture, whose design vision brought the market to life when it opened in summer 2021.

The new market sits on the grounds of a former coal mine—a heritage the building subtly acknowledges through its restrained dark façade. Copper accents interrupt the industrial aesthetic, their warm glow evoking memories of blast furnaces. This industrial vocabulary continues throughout: brick finishes, matte black metal profiles, exposed structural elements, raw concrete, and copper are complemented by tensioned grids that divide spaces. Together, they create a minimalist translation of the characteristic pipes and shafts of old industrial works. Slender, arched metal profiles elegantly echo the window systems typical of factory halls. Yet the design isn't austere—light-filled forests rendered as atmospheric photo prints and cascading plants soften the front areas, much like nature reclaiming abandoned mining sites. Strategically placed copper panels warm the otherwise cool industrial palette.

This refined backdrop allows the merchandise to command full attention. Products in every colour pop against the shelves and counters, their brilliance heightened by precise linear light rails and striking industrial fixtures that intuitively guide customers through the space. The fresh food counters showcase the concept most effectively. Their orange-tinted backing panels echo the warmth of blast furnaces, creating visual anchors that help customers navigate the market. "By deploying such distinctive architectural elements, we give food and beverage the starring role it deserves," explains architect Valentina Kinzel. "Design becomes the stage, not the show."

www.kinzel-project.de

Photography Credits:

Guido Leifheim

(Published in CUBE Ruhrgebiet 03|22)