Header: Sabin Prodan
There’s this showroom in Timisoara designed for PIATRAONLINE by Pure Mess Design that diverges from the standard retail format we are all used to seeing. This showroom presents natural stone as part of a curated experience, meaning that instead of conventional racks and labeled displays, stone samples are arranged to emphasize visual impact, with each piece showcased in a way that resembles art installations.
Due to this design, customers enter and immediately see the possibilities of the stone instead of feeling like they are in a commercial space. This makes customers not only see the stones but also experience them, focusing on each stone’s textures, patterns, and colors without distractions.
The showroom organization was carefully created so that customers would have a path to follow, guiding them through various zones and gradually revealing materials, encouraging exploration and interaction. The journey gives visitors the sense of discovering a new world, as each material seems to be part of a greater narrative about the stones’ versatility and aesthetic possibilities. There aren’t any visible price tags or product information in sight because the goal here isn’t to achieve a transaction but rather to allow the materials to stand independently as design elements and allow people to fall in love with what they could become in their homes.
To support the exhibition, the design team added layered arches, strategically placed mirrors, and tiered platforms, which created an array of different perspectives from which stones could be admired. Furthermore, large installations and freestanding stone structures give the exhibition a sense of scale, while the integration of natural textures and soft lighting makes this a space where one can get immersed without even noticing.
Through this setup, the showroom functions as an interactive and educational environment, inviting clients to engage with the materials in a way that makes them fall in love with the product, something that traditional commercial setups have yet to achieve.
The project was recently recognized by the prestigious BLT Built Design Awards, a platform that strives to share design with the world. It won the coveted Interior Design—Retails/Shops prize.
- Company/Firm: Pure Mess Design
- Lead Designer: Sergiu Califar
- Interior Designer: Sergiu Califar
- Construction Company: PIATRAONLINE
