Birkenstock opened a store in Zurich, marking its first in Switzerland and its 30th in Europe. Measuring 70 square meters (230 square feet), the store is located on Storchengasse in Switzerland’s financial capital, the historic Old Town.
Birkenstock said in a media release that the store “evokes the feeling of wandering through Switzerland. The front space represents the diverse Swiss outdoors and breathtaking nature, while the back is more intimate, symbolizing a transition to the interior.”
The materials in the store’s interior “pay homage to the alpine country: end grain wood tiles, pinewood displays incorporating a massive untreated rock, and darkened wooden logs inspired by traditional Swiss vernacular building methods.”
The custom-made benches are covered in a deep burgundy color, inspired by the historically protected red ox sign on the building’s façade, which has graced it since 1357, when literacy was rare and such symbols guided visitors in recognizing the property.
The stone-carpet sand flooring adds warmth to the space, as do the pine wood shelves and furniture, where branded messages have been engraved using traditional wood-carving techniques.
Deconstructed displays of Arizona, Boston and Zürich emphasize the shoemaker’s expertise. The cork-jute lighting pays homage to the Birkenstock footbed, echoed alongside an oversized footprint displayed on a wall.
Image courtesy Birkenstock
