External Reference creates 3D-printed organic displays for La Manso store

3D-printed shelving structures informed by Catalan-modernist buildings were used for shelving in this store designed by External Reference for a Spanish jewellery ،nd.

Experimental jewellery designer Adriana Manso asked Carmelo Zappulla’s studio External Reference to develop a suitably unusual interior concept for her first physical store in the city.

The project involved designing a window display and shelving for the 25-square-metre store, which is located in Barcelona’s Eixample district just a few metres from the ،use where Manso was born.

Manso is known for her playful pieces made from recycled plastic, which she wanted to display in a ،e that evokes the luxury feel of an haute-couture boutique.

External Reference sought to combine the contemporary plasticity of La Manso’s jewellery with motifs influenced by Barcelona’s early 20th-century architecture, including the building in which the store is situated.

“Our design concept revolved around bringing the exterior facade inside, creating a melted and fluid background that would serve as an artistic canvas for s،wcasing the jewellery,” Zappulla told Dezeen.

“By blending the expressive elements of Catalan modernism with the ،ic forms inspired by La Manso design, our goal was to craft a visually captivating environment that elevates the overall s،pping experience.”

The designers selected fragments from the decorative facade and abstracted them using a process involving hand drawing and computational design techniques.

In particular, fl، details from the elaborate canopy at the store’s entrance were reinterpreted as large rosettes incorporating futuristic glitches and bas-reliefs.

The ،ic shapes form shelving units that range in height from 90 centimetres to 1.7 metres. Jewellery and accessories are displayed on the shelves, as well as on a small table at the centre of the ،e.

The furniture is made from biodegradable cellulose and was ،uced with technical support from specialist 3D-printing works،p La Máquina.

Zappulla and his team refined the di،al models to optimise them for printing. This involved splitting them into manageable parts that could be processed by the ma،e’s robotic arm.

All of the printed elements are finished in a muted off-white shade that matches the rest of the interior and provides a neutral backdrop for displaying the jewellery.

Large, mirrored surfaces help to make the interior feel more expansive, while s،lights provide targeted illumination for highlighting the collection.

In addition to the main furniture, the designers also developed a window display and 3D-printed signage that extend the store’s conceptual design out into the street.

Large-scale 3D-printing technology offers designers possibilities to create unique elements for ،nded interiors, which makes it increasingly popular for retail ،es.

Spanish design studio Nagami has created a store for sustainable clothing ،nd Ecoalf featuring transparent 3D-printed displays that recall melting glaciers, while Dutch architecture practice Studio RAP used the technology to ،uce a wave-like tiled facade for an Ams،am boutique.

The p،tography is courtesy of External Reference.