Blackzmith: A Chic and Elegant Eyewear Shop

Chikara Sasaki and Aky.N's Award-Winning Design Inspired by Romanesque Architecture

The design concept for Blackzmith was born out of a desire for a more chic, elegant, and smarter retail space. The designers drew inspiration from Romanesque architecture, resulting in a brand vision that is both iconic and inviting. The shop, which is the first of its kind, is located on Nathan road in Tsim Sha Tsui, a bustling district in Hong Kong.

The shop's interior is a visual treat, with its main feature being an arched shape structure painted in white, running through the length of the retail space. The background wall, made of black coloured wood wool cement board, serves to highlight the white arched shape. The space is warmed up with antique style chairs and pendant lights, creating a welcoming atmosphere for customers.

Despite its chic design, Blackzmith is not just about aesthetics. The shop, which has a total useful floor area of around 28 square meters and a ceiling height of 5.6m under the slab, is designed to be functional. The designers faced the challenge of combining minimum functional requirements, Feng Shui, and spatial design organization in a limited space. Through careful examination of the floor plan and thorough discussions, they were able to come up with a design that met all these requirements.

The colour scheme of the shop is simple yet effective. Black and white, the concept colours of the shop, are complemented by mustard, which is used as an accent for the flooring. The designers lined up white coloured panels in the arched form against a black background to highlight the shop space and give a refined feeling to customers. The antique style chairs and pendant light, chosen by Studio C8, add warmth and a welcoming atmosphere to the space.

Blackzmith's design has not gone unnoticed in the design world. In 2017, it was awarded the Golden A' Interior Space, Retail and Exhibition Design Award, a prestigious accolade granted to marvelous, outstanding, and trendsetting creations that reflect the designer's prodigy and wisdom. The award is a testament to the designers' ability to advance art, science, design, and technology, and significantly impact the world with their desirable characteristics.

In conclusion, Blackzmith is a shining example of how design can transform a retail space into a work of art. It is a testament to the creativity and innovation of its designers, Chikara Sasaki and Aky.N, and a model for future retail spaces. The shop's design, which combines functionality with elegance and style, is a reflection of the designers' commitment to creating spaces that are not just visually appealing, but also comfortable and inviting for customers.