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AIM Architecture's Zara flagship in Shanghai rethinks retail with amphitheatre-like brick podium

architecture-design · 2026-08-26

Zara's flagship store on Huaihai Road in Shanghai has been reimagined by AIM Architecture, turning a five-storey concrete structure into a forward-thinking retail environment. Dubbed Zara Huaihai Road, the design features a tiered brick podium that incorporates seating and greenery. Each of the five levels presents unique collections: TRF in a warehouse ambiance, women's wear in an art gallery style, and menswear divided between an atelier and a modern loft. The aesthetic includes exposed columns, sleek concrete, and a sculptural staircase with a textured-steel railing. Adaptable furniture accommodates seasonal updates. Established in 2005 by Wendy Saunders and Vincent de Graaf, AIM operates in Shanghai, Antwerp, Hong Kong, and Chicago, earning the Interior Designer of the Year award at the 2023 Dezeen Awards China. Photography by Seth Powers.

Key facts

  • AIM Architecture designed Zara Huaihai Road, a flagship store in Shanghai.
  • The store is located on Huaihai Road in central Shanghai.
  • The design includes an amphitheatre-like brick podium extending onto the street.
  • The store occupies a five-storey concrete building.
  • Zara's TRF collection is displayed in a contemporary warehouse setting.
  • The main women's collection is shown in an art gallery-like environment.
  • The menswear floor includes an atelier and a contemporary Shanghai loft.
  • AIM Architecture was founded in 2005 by Wendy Saunders and Vincent de Graaf.
  • AIM Architecture has offices in Shanghai, Antwerp, Hong Kong, and Chicago.
  • AIM Architecture won Interior Designer of the Year at Dezeen Awards China 2023.

Entities

Artists

  • Wendy Saunders
  • Vincent de Graaf
  • Sacha Silva
  • Ewa Szajda
  • Ruiqi Zhou
  • Seth Powers
  • AIM Architecture

Institutions

  • AIM Architecture
  • Zara
  • Dezeen Awards China
  • Dezeen
  • ZARA

Locations

  • Shanghai
  • China
  • Huaihai Road
  • Antwerp
  • Hong Kong
  • Chicago
  • Chengdu
  • Changzhou
  • Nanjing Xinjiekou

Sources

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