26.03.2026
The years 2025–2026 mark a period of transformation in retail. Physical stores have evolved beyond simple points of sale, becoming multifunctional environments where culture, technology, and sustainability intersect. This article presents examples of retail concepts recognized in international competitions such as the EuroShop Retail Design Award, iF Design Award, and Architizer A+Awards, illustrating the direction in which the industry is heading.
In an era dominated by e-commerce, brands are investing in flagship formats that deliver unique experiences impossible to replicate digitally. In the “phygital” world, boundaries between physical and digital environments are increasingly blurred.
The MediaMarkt TechVillage Hamburg store, opened in September 2024 and awarded the RetailDesign Award 2026 in the Digital category during the latest EuroShop trade fair, represents a benchmark example of how large-format consumer electronics stores are evolving.
Spanning an impressive 15,000 m², the space functions as a true “technology village,” composed of 47 partner-brand boutiques, including Apple Inc. and Samsung Electronics. The Xperion zone (3,500 m²) — an e-sports arena with podcast studios — transforms the store into a hub for content creation and community engagement.
Photo: Euroshop
The Cyberculture Silpo supermarket, awarded at EuroShop in the Food category, proves that even grocery retail can be immersive. Created in collaboration with the esports organization NAVI, the interior is filled with cyberculture references — from signage made of keyboard keys to checkout counters styled like microchips.
Photo: EuroShop
Sustainability has become a core element of brand value creation. Award-winning projects from 2025–2026 increasingly rely on certifications such as LEED and BREEAM, alongside advanced material and energy solutions.
The flagship Apple The Exchange TRX store received the Jury Winner award in the Retail category at the Architizer A+Awards 2025. Designed by Foster + Partners, the building integrates with a 10-acre rooftop park, creating a unique synergy between architecture and nature. Powered entirely by renewable energy, the store stands as a symbol of the company’s environmental commitment.
Photo: apple.com
Winner of the sustainability category at the EuroShop RetailDesign Award 2026, Intersport Finke demonstrates that renovating existing retail spaces can be more innovative than constructing new ones. The “BEST IN SPORTS: UP FOR FUTURE” strategy focuses on resource efficiency and carbon footprint reduction through the reuse of store fixtures and materials.
Photo: EuroShop
Many global brands are moving away from standardized concepts toward designs deeply connected with local culture and identity.
The adidas Originals Flagship Seoul store, awarded the iF Design Award 2026 and recognized by the FRAME Awards, draws inspiration from the industrial character of Seongsu-dong — often called the “Brooklyn of Seoul.” A bold red-brick façade harmonizes with the district’s post-industrial surroundings.
The interior functions as a cultural platform, centered around iconic blue stairs. Beyond retail, the space hosts workshops and gatherings for the local creative community, helping the brand build authenticity among younger generations.
Photo: KoreaNewsPlus
The HONOR Flagship Store Chengdu (Best Retail Store Design 2025 / ERDA China) offers a refined interpretation of traditional Sichuan architecture. The concept of “grey roof tiles reflected in water” combines classic materials such as slate and wood with minimalist white display tables showcasing modern smartphones.
Photo: Honor
The future of retail lies in spaces that continuously evolve. The House of Silhouette Vienna store (Fashion & Lifestyle category winner, EuroShop 2026) uses mobile furniture systems that allow the boutique to transform within minutes into a showroom or event venue – a stage for fashion shows, exhibitions, or even “eye yoga” sessions.
Photo: ifgroup.org
The store also features the Eye Test Space — a futuristic vision-testing capsule emerging from a historic staircase, merging cutting-edge optometry with monumental architecture. Interactive configurators enable customers to test more than 170,000 combinations of frames and lenses.
Award-winning projects demonstrate that the modern brick-and-mortar store must be flexible, sustainable, and strongly rooted in local context. At Ergo Store, drawing on experience gained while producing solutions for market leaders such as Levi Strauss & Co., Dockers, and Reserved, global retail trends are translated into practical, functional furniture solutions that attract customers and build long-term loyalty.
19.03.2026
In one of our previous articles, we outlined the general principles of the circular economy in retail. This time, we focus on circular shopfitting - how these principles translate into specific structural, material, and technological solutions in the production of retail furniture.
