In many of Europe’s leading shopping destinations, the H&M Group has become a dominant player in the local retail scene. Its eponymous retail formula has been hugely successful since first expanding outside the Swedish home market in the 1980s, becoming a fixture at many a high street location. Embedded in the expansion strategy are a string of affiliated brands, each serving a different segment and demographic, and which have equally gained a loyal following across Europe and beyond. The H&M Group’s position in the Netherlands is hardly any different, managing a sizeable network of shops that represents five of its brands in Amsterdam alone. And just when we thought full saturation had been reached, the retailer introduces its latest retail concept ARKET smack in the middle of the city’s Canal District. The store occupies approx. 1,000 sqm. (10,764 sq.ft.) across three light-filled floors of an early 20th century building.
Concepted as a higher-end brand, the interior design bears a clean aesthetic that’s exemplary of nordic style, but also oozes an understated chic often associated with the top echelon of retail. Featuring a discreet grey palette across the premises, furnishings comprise of custom-made shelving, displays and separate seating pieces, all contributing to a look that’s overtly cohesive, sleek and inviting at the same time. Similarly to other ARKET stores across the old continent, a café can be found here on the ground floor where to sit back and recharge over a Scandinavian-inspired menu of coffee, tea and other beverages, and an abundance of small bites. The new store stocks ARKET’s full range of apparel, accessories and bags for men, women and kids, and homeware, in addition to a collection of compatible items sourced from other brands, a novelty within H&M Group’s extensive portfolio, and one that resonates well with the eclectic taste level of today’s discerning shopper. The latter merchandise currently includes items by coveted names such as footwear by R.M. Williams, Nike, and adidas, Nividas eyewear, and vases by Iittala.
ARKET
Koningsplein 20 (Centrum)
1017BB Amsterdam
Telephone: +31 20 7249960
Mon 11-6
Tue-Sat 10-6
Sun 12-6
Publishers Note
Just to be clear – superfuture® is a design blog and not a political commentator. No surprise there. The scope of our content has always been global and borderless, however that can often mean covering projects in countries where we will not agree with the politics or actions of those countries. In a world that’s as screwed up as ever right now, the focus of our support is to those designers, architects and other creatives who aim to make the world a more liveable one – as opposed to people that try their hardest to destroy it. So if a project hits our desk and we like it based on its design credentials, we may choose to publish regardless of its location or creators nationality. superfuture® has always been inclusive and hopes for all current wars, aggression, violence, hate and extremism to end.
