A new concept of supermarket, designed as a place of sale as well as a space for social gathering and knowledge exchange – a proper community hub. This is the new model of brand architecture defined by Park Associati for Coop Lombardia.
The locations where Coop has chosen to establish its points of sale reflect the company’s attitude towards the community and the landscape with which it engages, consistently finding the most coherent architectural language and dialectic. Being recognised in the country as ‘Coop’ implies a responsibility in terms of presence and the role played in society and the territory.
Through the manipulation of design and architectural archetypes that have always belonged to the image of public buildings, using non-ephemeral materials and a contemporary compositional and formal language, Park Associati has designed a concept that outlines a new functional and formal model for the retail programme, named Civic Retail.
The supermarket building is generally characterised by its intrinsic simplicity, easy to replicate and build, sometimes becoming an introverted box with no architectural character.
The Coop concept envisages the box being hollowed out at the corners, corresponding to its entrances, and this subtraction of volume generates a greater degree of porosity and openness towards the outside.
The shed-style panelling on the building’s roof lets the natural light into the retail space. The volumetrics have been split between a lower level and an upper level projecting over the entrance, which accentuates the plastic gesture of hollowing out the corners.
The Cesate supermarket is the first Coop project realised, completed at the end of 2023. The intervention goes beyond the architectural aspect, also extending to the design of the outdoor open space: the pedestrian edge is expanded to accommodate community meeting spaces, waiting areas, and play areas for children. The vegetation is integrated, serving as a background that completes the surrounding context.
Park Associates’ work for Coop does not end there: other supermarkets are being planned and implemented.
