Stradivarius inaugurates largest global store in Barcelona
Roberta HERRERA
InditexStradivarius
With a total surface area of over 1,936 square meters spread across two floors, the 1,005-square-metre store will showcase the brand’s latest collections. The impressive establishment is situated in what was formerly the headquarters of the Central Bank until 1999 and, more recently, the location occupied by the German sportswear brand Adidas
One of the most striking features of the flagship is its façade, which is integrated into the original aesthetics of the building constructed in 1919. The store has dual entrances from Paseo de Gracia, featuring a series of large screens visible from the outside.
On the interior side, the design has preserved the building’s original elements such as beams, structures, and views. Stradivarius has embraced a hybrid aesthetic by blending the restoration of the original brickwork of the entrance area with the brand’s new store concept called ‘Wave’.
The minimalist style is characterised by a colour palette of whites, grays, and beiges; the use of natural materials like mineral-based lime cement on the walls; and furniture with rounded shapes and finishes hanging from the ceiling. Additionally, the brand has incorporated sustainable elements: from fitting room curtains made from 100% recycled industrial textile waste to around 30% of recycled and reused materials used in the construction of the flooring.
In terms of innovation and customer service, the new Stradivarius store features a total of 14 checkouts (10 for card payments and four for cash or card) located in the rear section of the store. Moreover, the brand has converted the bank’s former vault into a space for exchanges, returns, or package pickups.
This same floor also includes a self-return machine for online purchases, a fitting room area, and a ‘Fragrance Lab’, an interactive area where customers can explore the brand’s fragrances.
In February of the previous year, Inditex refreshed Stradivarius’ identity and logo as a step forward in asserting the brand’s significance. At the end of the last fiscal year, the brand ranked fourth in terms of revenue for the group, accumulating annual sales of 2.056 billion euros (out of the 32.569 billion euros recorded by the Galician group). At that time, the brand had 849 stores out of the 5,815 operated by the conglomerate headed by Marta Ortega.