As the retail sector competes with the growing influence of e-commerce, companies are integrating nature into store interiors to create pleasant and memorable shopping experiences.
The Roof, a shopping and lifestyle destination in Shanghai, is departing from traditional mall design with a living façade of plants, an example of urban infrastructure that allows both nature and retail to thrive in one space.
The Green Pea Mall in Turin is one of the first retail parks dedicated entirely to sustainability, with visitors able to buy exclusive sustainable items from luxury labels like Ermenegildo Zegna and Brunello Cucinelli.
Dior is also uniting nature and retail. Its historic 30 Montaigne flagship store has been given a green makeover courtesy of Belgian landscape architect Peter Wirtz. In keeping with Monsieur Dior’s love of flowers, three gardens have been integrated into the recently renovated building, totalling 247 square metres of green space in the centre of Paris. The gardens open on 6 March 2022.
Continue the conversation: Nature’s role in retail can help shoppers to feel calm while communicating sustainable ambitions. Ask clients how they feel when experiencing green retail
Image: The Glossier store in Seattle features a living fungi centrepiece
Image: Gardens inside Dior's 30 Avenue Montaigne boutique
Dior is working to protect urban biodiversity around the world with its Roofs of Christian Dior initiative. In September 2021, three gardens were installed at the House of Dior Seoul, complementing the organic shape of the existing building, designed by Christian de Portzamparc, while protecting indigenous vegetation. In July 2022, gardens, plants and beehives will be added to the roofs of Dior’s Omotesando and Osaka boutiques in Japan, further cementing the brand’s dedication to rewilding.
In London’s Chelsea district, Louis Vuitton is embarking on an urban rewilding initiative, planting some 630 native trees and 77 shrub species. This urban forest, located near Louis Vuitton’s Sloane Street boutique, is creating a green oasis where locals and visitors to London can connect with nature and find respite from the rhythms of the city.
Continue the conversation: Beyond its rooftops, how might Dior engage with a local community or neighbourhood through nature-centric projects?
Artist Alexandra Daisy Ginsberg is exploring the future of plant care. Originally commissioned to design a garden for the Eden Project in Cornwall, England, the artist instead created a living artwork for pollinating insects.
Ginsberg used AI technology to develop an algorithm for plants to attract more diverse insects. People will soon be able to develop their own version of the project at home, as Ginsberg has released the algorithm to the public. Gardeners can input the size of their available space and wait for the algorithm to recommend foliage or flowers to maximise biodiversity.
Continue the conversation: Ask clients about their own gardens – do they use technology to improve biodiversity in their homes or gardens?
Image: Food is Power by Sky High Farm, USA
