The brief from eyewear brand Chimi was to create a flagship store in central Stockholm that balanced brand identity with spatial clarity, environmental responsibility, and functionality. Working with a modest budget, the design aimed to build on the architectural language developed in Chimi’s previous stores, while refining and advancing it.

The project began with a deliberate act of subtraction. Over time, the site had been layered with ad hoc additions that obscured its original structure and spatial proportions. These were removed to reveal the core architectural elements. This process of reduction was not minimalism for its own sake, but a method of restoring spatial balance. It allowed new additions to emerge as precise, respectful interventions, complementing rather than competing with the space.

Materials were chosen for their tactile qualities and environmental performance. Walls and ceilings are finished in warm grey lime plaster, VOC-free and breathable, creating a soft, acoustically absorbent atmosphere. Burgundy stucco accents the staircase and cashier’s desk, visually anchoring the space. Shelving and detailing in anodised aluminium, composed of 96% recycled content, designed to be easily disassembled and recycled. 

Construction followed low-impact methods: hand-applied plaster, minimal-waste fabrication, and strategic reuse—such as preserving and reinforcing the original stair structure. The parabolic cashier’s desk connects the primary areas both functionally and symbolically, integrating storage and flexible POS units.

This is a space where subtraction reveals potential, and addition serves only to sharpen it.