BREAKING NEWS
The Retail Design Institute, based in NewYork City, named iKOU, a specialty skincare retailer located in Sydney’s historic Queen Victoria Building, its 2017 Store of the Year. The honor was announced May 23rd at the Institute’s 47th Awards Gala & Fundraiser in New York City.
Designed by Pinto Tuncer, Collingwood, Victoria, Australia, iKOU is a holistic, ethically sourced, luxury skincare brand. The Pinto Tuncer design team sought to translate iKOU’s philosophy — “encouraging mindful and relaxing moments inspired by nature” – into a clinical-yet-inviting haven. Clearly zoned through planning and materiality, iKOU’s two distinct-but-intertwined zones define the customer experience.
The store was selected from among 115 projects entered in the Institute’s annual design competition. It further competed against nearly three-dozen fellow finalists before emerging as the 2017 Store of the Year.
“iKOU is the quintessential example of excellence in design at the intersection of the dominant trends in retail today,” commented one judge. ”The store perfectly reflects the wellness brand that it represents: using local materials and live plants balanced with crisp modernism, strategic, well-edited merchandising, technology that supports rather than dominates, and on-point lighting design echoing the natural, sustainable design concept — all adding up to a space that surprises and delights.”
Said Creative Director Ilker Tuncer, “As we watched all of the winning projects (projected onscreen at the event) we were amazed by the quality. We were convinced that any one of the them could be named store of the year.” Added Architect Gerard Pinto, “We were deeply honored to receive this important recognition from the only organization devoted to retail design and retail designers.”
PIXALUX structural lighting panels have been used extensively in the design of the store. Our Melbourne based licencee PMA worked closely with Pinto Tuncer and the shopfitter to achieve this stunning result. Congratulations to all involved!
The iKOU Skincare store uses Pixalux panels as illuminated shelves - Photo Jean-Marie LIERE