Steel modular units at VIVO! Market retail concept Biophilic design with high-level planting at VIVO! Market Interior of VIVO! Market retail concept featuring local food stalls

In our recent collaboration with Immofinanz and their VIVO! brand, Air Design was tasked with creating a new concept for the VIVO! Food Market, which opened earlier this year. This modern, bespoke space is designed to provide a dynamic and inviting shopping and dining experience, catering to families, friends, and the local community. Here’s a breakdown of the key considerations and design process behind this exciting addition:

Key Considerations for the VIVO! Food Market Design:

  1. Strong Brand Identity We used the client’s existing branding guidelines to inform the design, ensuring the new Food Market was both distinctive and complementary to VIVO!’s established identity. A carefully chosen colour palette and sculptural interior features were used to enhance the space’s uniqueness while maintaining a cohesive brand image.
  2. Client Communication Working closely with Immofinanz, we developed an open, collaborative communication approach, ensuring all design aspects met both aesthetic and leasing needs. This seamless exchange allowed for efficient design iterations, which ultimately led to an optimal layout.
  3. Detailed Design Solutions Every stage of the design process was meticulously planned to provide the client with all the necessary information for implementation. We carefully selected materials, finishes, and dimensions for every fixture, kiosk, signage, and lighting element to ensure that the design vision was executed flawlessly.
  4. Understanding Tenant Needs The needs of different tenants were central to the design of the market’s kiosks and counter systems. Flexibility was a priority, ensuring that each tenant could display their products in a way that suited their brand and offerings, while maintaining a cohesive design throughout the space.
  5. A Simple Modular Design System The VIVO! Food Market’s modular system was designed with flexibility in mind. This modular approach allows the market to easily reconfigure, adapting to seasonal changes or evolving tenant needs. It also ensures that the concept can be implemented at other VIVO! locations across Europe, creating a consistent yet adaptable food market experience.

Client Response and Impact

The presentation of design documents was clear and easily understandable, which facilitated communication with the tenants, many of whom were small local traders without extensive design experience. The flexibility of the system was a significant benefit, as it allowed adjustments based on tenant needs and feedback. For instance, the seating area was initially removed to accommodate more kiosks, but when tenants requested more seating, a unit was removed to double the seating capacity. This adaptability ensures the space can evolve alongside the needs of the tenants and visitors, particularly in response to shifting social environments and the need for more socially distanced seating.

Through a combination of collaboration, flexibility, and bespoke design, we helped create an aesthetically modern and functional food market that not only enhances the overall shopping experience but also boosts footfall, revenue, and customer satisfaction.