Footwear stores "Camper"

Design: TOMÁS ALONSO DESIGN STUDIO Photo: SÁNCHEZ Y MONTORO

Tomás Alonso Design Studio designed seven of the many stores operated by Camper, a well-known footwear brand that rose to prominence in 1975 with the launch of the famous shoe style inspired by the “camaleon”, a traditional shoe from Majorca. As part of the ”Camper Together” initiative for preventing the standardisation typical of chain stores, the brand worked with the designer to create a modern, up-to-date store that attracts and satisfies the tastes of customers of all kinds. Tomás Alonso oversaw the design of Camper stores in Genoa, Glasgow, London, Instanbul, Saint Petersburg, Santander and Thessaloniki. The Italian store, located in Via San Vincenzo, a popular shopping street in Genoa, was the first to be completed, in June 2010. The store window is surrounded by a frame of vertical black strips contrasting with the building’s Mannerist façade. The stores designed under Camper’s partnership with the artist are based on the idea of simple but functional spaces combined with rational geometric shapes and use of simple, natural materials. Geometric motifs and axonometric designs created using Ceramica Vogue 10x10 tiles and special tiles create optical illusions on the walls that look like overhangs and niches.  This unusual appearance, which both amuses customers and helps to fix Camper products in their minds, was created using tiles in the traditional size along with specially designed triangular and diamond-shaped tiles. The particular feature of enamelled porcelain tiles that allows them to reflect light makes the stores big, light-filled, pleasant spaces. The architect used sold-coloured enamelled porcelain tiles from the Trasparenze collection with a glossy finish, with a base in the colours Ice, Pearl, Black and Grey and trim and writing in Pink, Red and Emerald ceramic tiles. Characteristics such as a bright, glossy look and easy cleaning make Ceramica Vogue products versatile and suitable for a multitude of uses; in addition to retail spaces, they can be used as bathroom or kitchen tiles and for countless other applications.