life-size spiral stairs warp above a brand new retail retailer on the common beijing resort

WUUX completes ‘beijing youli’ store as a disruptive retail experience for zhima health 

arches intersect on the ceiling, extending all the way to the bottom of the rammed earth walls

the opening of zhima health’s ‘beijing youli’ store at the universal beijing resort has pooled nearly 30 local time-honored brands alongside international names. on top of functionality and social networking, the space is expected to offer strong emotional value for consumers, which WUUX (see more here) has addressed as a first challenge. the second challenge is the space itself – a 6.5m × 4m area of less than 30 sqm. given its relatively compact size, yong has worked out a way to minimize the feeling of confinement by adding a ‘fourth’ dimension based on a 3D design concept. 

reflective surfaces elevate the mesmerizing ceiling design

a 30 sqm ‘metaverse’ seemingly bending time and space through a 3D ceiling installation 

what yong had in mind was targeting a customer group through a new architectural style that conforms to the resort’s culture, caters to the youth’s diversified preferences, complies with zhima health’s brand identity, and fits within the limited space. as a result, he drew inspiration from inception, multi-dimensionality, fashion, and traditional brand design to deliver a space that is part in vogue, part sci-fi, and part friendly.

‘beijing youli’ has pooled almost 30 local time-honored brands

taking advantage of the high ceiling, yong has deployed numerous towering wooden arches that intersect at the top and extend down to the bottom of the rammed earth walls where product shelves are mounted. additionally, four impressive pairs of life-size wooden spiral stairs thread through the arches from a height to elevate the shopping experience. the entire space, therefore, echoes the shape of an unfolded accordion that’s bending time and space — creating a sort of retail ‘metaverse’ with mirrors that heighten the dramatic effect of the ceiling design.

yong has transformed the space into a 30 sqm ‘metaverse’ of some sort

concluding his design approach, yong adds: ‘a whole glass on the ceiling and one side of the wall, together with the stretching structures that present a distortion in time and space, seems to have eliminated the boundary of the room and distorted time in a dazzling way. with light projecting from underneath the ground and structured light belts on the arches, a metaverse is throwing its arms wide open to all customers.’

wooden arches complementing the life-size spiral stairs

detail shot — four pairs of life-size spiral wooden stairs echoing each other overhead