HARMAY HK is a minimalist store interior located in Hong Kong designed by AIM Architecture. Inspired by the old-school chemists, this Hong Kong apothecary meets modern day boutique where visitors feel the unexpected elevation of shopping and the callbacks and comforts of the digital age convenience. Walking in, stainless steel drawers line most of the walls, giving the space an orderly and calming presence. Where the area is not even about shopping – because these days, shopping merely is scrolling and clicking, anyway – but instead, it’s about discovery. This innovative and bold approach to retail conceives a space for exploring and discovering hidden treasures. Subtle signage guides guests to open drawers, revealing the products inside. Walking up towards the second floor, space is left untouched, as found.
It is rough and even raw to the senses, immersing you in the tactile experience of traditional shopping. Here stainless steel mirrored cabinets are suspended from the ceiling, reflective surfaces hide their existence. With their rubber insides and the found space, they engage in a powerful dialogue creating an intimacy with the products, placing them straight into the hands of our shoppers. Hong Kong is notoriously cramped, but despite its smallness, the two floors are spatially connected through the omnipresent rough brick walls, concrete ceilings and the continuous floor creating an unanticipated and spacious illusion. The stainless steel powder room echo’s this, with its glass wall, guests might second guess its function, but then a well-placed curtain creates playful privacy, leaving just feet exposed. One of the benefits of online shopping is knowing what you want, click on it, and it’s delivered.
Photography by Dirk Weiblen