McIntosh AV Galleria: A Bold and Luxurious Audio System Store in Shanghai

Creating an Eye-Catching and Tastefully Luxurious Interior

Tasked with the audio system and hi-fi brand's store interiors was Hong Kong-based PplusP Designers Ltd. Since their machines are for an exclusive, high-end market, the materials used for the interiors have to align with their products. Black stainless steel represents the feeling of boldness and mechanism. Marble floors are incorporated at the entrance to enhance the feeling of luxury. The store’s door handles take inspiration from McIntosh’s signature machine, offering a clear brand identity upon entrance.

Passersby will not miss what Liu calls the store’s ‘time tree’, a striking spiral feature with years imprinted at different levels to signify the company’s milestones. Lead interior designer Wesley Liu created this spiral feature in order to hide the pillar as well as to create an eye-catching feature for the shop front to attract customers. It is carefully divided into proportion and features the significant years of achievement.

As sound performance is much higher with softer materials, wood is used further inside to meet technical needs. The client explained that great sound needed to have hard materials for reflection and soft elements for absorption.

The loose display units come in two forms – one is inspired by the oversized scroll button on the McIntosh machine; the other is representative of a typical hi-fi needle, which is a long Corian unit with a crystal glass top.

LED reflector lights are used instead of traditional halogen lamps to enhance the feeling of comfort. To represent the ripples and spirals of sound waves, PplusP Designers used Thomas Heatherwick’s Spun chair in the open sales area and Herman Miller’s Eames chair in the main theatre. Additionally, the Spun chair was used to harmonize the sales area’s bold surroundings. When clients sit on the chair to try out sound quality, they can also have fun by swinging on it.

There are two theatres – a main theatre and a mini theatre. The main theatre features McIntosh Machines' signature and most expansive 2K sound system, while the mini theatre displays a sleek home theatre system. Compared to the main theatre, the mini theatre is more flexible and open.

The project started in November 2011 and finished in July 2012. It is situated in Plaza 66, No.1226 Nanjing Road (West) in Shanghai.

This design was awarded Silver in the A' Interior Space, Retail, and Exhibition Design Award in 2014. The Silver A' Design Award is given to top-of-the-line, creative, and professionally remarkable designs that illustrate outstanding expertise and innovation. These designs, admired for their strong technical characteristics and splendid artistic skill, showcase a remarkable level of excellence and introduce positive feelings, amazement, and wonder.