Pop Up Box & Food Corner | DIA - Dittel Architekten

The Pop Up Box is a versatile piece of design, finding first use in the mall of the Gerber shopping centre in Stuttgart. As convertible retail space, it offers retailers and exhibitors a customizable presentation area. It’s a system that is self-contained, an out-of-the-box solution. Technology, utility and design are coming together in a cube.

A key technological trick is the integrated lifting system. The retailer can move three of the four individual elements anywhere in the room and so create his own sales area of about 20 to 30 square metres, which is also wheelchair-accessible. The shop-fitting system on the insides of the elements allows for flexible attachment of the goods. Visual imagery is fed to two monitors on the outside walls.

Covering an area of nine square metres, the elements fit together to make up compact form at closing time. The box is closed, while perforated metal inserts still provide fragmentary glimpses of the interior. The main element is powered via floor boxes, charging the batteries of the other elements. This provides enough energy to power the spotlights on the ceiling trim and put the goods in the right light during the day.

The design is twofold: It blends in with the architecture of the host space and meets the requirements of a wide range of presentation contents. Precious walnut finishes speak of quality and naturalness. The shade of brown contrasts with the natural stone tiles of the surroundings and the inner surfaces of the box. The bright concrete surfaces speak for themselves; they are modern and at the same time sufficiently restrained not to overshadow the products. The black perforated plate takes up the corporate logo.

The idea of the Food Corner: bringing all passers-by to a common table. The furnishing concept consists of two long tables in walnut finish with individual seating. Upscale and cool, everyone is welcome and can even charge his smartphone over pasta, grilled snacks or salad - the tables are equipped with 16 USB charging stations. Up to date. Up to snack. This atmosphere is complemented with greenery which provides privacy around the seating arrangements on all floors of the shopping centre. The round wooden modules are made of the same material and blend in with the surroundings.