Sydney Airport Regionals | LAVA - Laboratory for Visionary Architecture

LAVA’s new duty free section at Sydney International Airport is inspired by the sandstone rock formations of the world famous Sydney Harbour. 

LAVA’s design for the ‘regional products area’ is an abstract representation of Sydney Harbour with headlands, inlets, coves and beaches. Featuring living Australian bush, the cave-like shelves create an experiential showcase for regional Sydney products.

The retail layout captures the topography of the harbour inlets as seen from the air. Just as the harbour foreshore is different in every spot, so too the curved display stands are each unique, in shape, height and size. Ten stands vary from small low inlets to steep escarpments, from deeply eroded caves to shallow beaches. On top of each display tufts of living Australian plants cascade over, referencing the green flora on top of the cliffs of the harbour.

The 250 linear metres of shelves are made of recyclable and ecofriendly plywood, with edges exposed. The rich and varied hues of the variegated layers of sandstone are reflected in the colours of plywood. Strips of green laminate on top of the display units unify the space.