PomPom: A Unique Children's Clothing Store by Albertina Oliveira

Transforming Space Constraints into Creative Design Opportunities

The inspiration for PomPom was born from the intersection of the program, a children's clothing store, and the physical space constraints. The design of the space was centered around the products to be displayed. Predominantly white, the store features defined spaces through shapes and colors. A large beam that crosses the store has been ingeniously used to create a sloped ceiling, which houses a metal structure that supports suspended lighting, highlighting the central exhibitor.

The use of economic materials such as lacquered MDF for furniture, plasterboard for walls and ceiling, and a self-leveling floor, demonstrates Oliveira's commitment to sustainability. The store's dimensions are 6500mm in width, 8000mm in depth, and a height ranging from 2250mm to 3000mm, covering a surface area of 50.50 square meters.

The project, which began in May 2013 in Mercado Bom Sucesso, Oporto, Portugal, was completed in a month. Despite the initial challenges and small dimensions of the space, Oliveira and her project assistant, António Pinto, managed to create a wide and fluid space where the products for sale are the real highlight.

Two additional colors were used to signal spaces with different areas, such as the service counter, dressing, and pause in the sitting area. The ceiling composition was worked through geometric shapes, like the dome above the dressing space and the beam that points to the exhibitor through the suspension lighting. This neutral color scheme is punctuated by strong colors that mark and organize the space.

The PomPom store is a testament to Oliveira's ability to turn challenges into creative opportunities. The large beam that "fractured" the space was used as a starting point to draw the rest of the program, including circulation, exhibition, service counter, dresser, and storage. The perception of the parts and the whole contribute to a geometry, easily identifiable, giving emphasis to the products for sale.

Albertina Oliveira's PomPom is a marvel of interior space, retail, and exhibition design, reflecting the designer's prodigy and wisdom. It is a venerated product and a bright idea that advances art, science, design, and technology, embodying extraordinary excellence and significantly impacting the world with its desirable characteristics.