AIM | ZARA Nanjing Xinjiekou Flagship Store
Authentic. Immersive. Impactful.
Located in the heart of Xinjiekou, Nanjing's bustling commercial district, this new ZARA Asia flagship store marks a pivotal moment in the brand's fashion retail evolution. Designed by AIM Architecture, this store represents a bold new flagship typology, one that is immersive, spatially dynamic, and deeply integrated into the city's urban fabric. As a significant evolution from the conventional fashion retail model, ZARA entrusted AIM to bring this vision to life, setting a new precedent for the brand's future store concepts.
A Connected and Evolving Space
Designed as an extension of the city, the store creates a natural dialogue with its surroundings.
A new fluid architectural skin and big cantilever canopy, embraces the public space, connecting the store with the city of Nanjing and its dynamic population.
Together with the redesigned streetscape and entrance plaza, we extend the brand experience beyond the retail floor, welcoming passersby to engage with the store beyond shopping.
More than just a store, ZARA Nanjing Xinjiekou Flagship Store redefines the way fashion interacts with the city, offering a fluid, multi-layered journey that blurs the boundaries between retail, public space, and cultural engagement. The design invites public interaction, weaving the rhythms of the street into the store and opening up new ways for visitors to engage with the brand.
A new balance emerges between structure and spontaneity, efficiency and discovery, elevating the retail journey into something more than transactional.
Where Heritage Meets the Future
The architectural and interior design strike a balance between ZARA's evolving global identity and Nanjing's urban landscape, creating a space that is both contemporary and contextually grounded. Nanjing's cultural fabric is expressed through the red brick mountain staircase, which extends outward to connect the store with the streetscape. This multifunctional centerpiece integrates seating, product display, and moments of pause, anchored by Zacaffè.
A double-height plaza at the entrance serves as the store's spatial anchor, offering an open, flexible environment for the brand to shape its narrative. This space acts as a platform for artistic collaborations, brand storytelling, and cultural activations, enabling ZARA to engage with the community in new and evolving ways.
The store as a machine representing ZARA's signature efficiency, is embedded within and feeds the design. Rather than dominating the space, it is integrated into the shopping experience. The automated clothing transportation system, visible through a glazed wall, further enhances efficiency, quickly processing clothing organization and allowing staff to focus on delivering exceptional service.
A Customer-Centric Experience
Materiality plays a crucial role in shaping both the sensory experience and ZARA's evolving brand identity. Exposed structural columns, polished concrete floors, and a concrete cassette ceiling establish a bold yet serene architectural language, offering a strong, authentic backdrop for ZARA's perse customer profiles.
Offering a layered and highly personalized shopping journey, the ground floor introduces ZARA Salon - an elevated, intimate retail experience tailored for those seeking a more curated and personal approach. In contrast, the upper level embraces a youthful, experimental energy, where unexpected material combinations shape a dynamic yet refined atmosphere.
Technology and digital engagement further elevate the customer journey, with a bookable, professional-grade photo booth called Zara Fit Check offering an interactive, high-quality digital experience. By merging physical and virtual retail spaces, the store positions itself at the forefront of next-generation retail engagement.
An Urban Anchor
By blurring the boundaries between retail, community, and culture, we have designed ZARA Nanjing Xinjiekou store to be more than just a store. This project introducing an immersive, experience-driven approach that engages customers on multiple levels.
As a flagship, its scale, impact, and significance lay the foundation for ZARA's future. AIM's collaboration on this project sets a new benchmark in retail design, positioning the brand not only as a global leading fashion retail brand, but as an active force in shaping the urban and cultural landscape.