The Design Solution reports today that it is very happy with its dual roles as both airport architect and commercial planner and also as commercial designer for Dufry’s stores at RIOgaleāo Tom Jobim International Airport.

 

The company reports that both assignments have now been successfully completed ahead of this year’s important sporting events in Brazil, including the ‘radically reconfigured RIOgaleāo’ airport facility.

 

 

The London-based airport and retail specialist led by Robbie Gill has been working on the project since it was initially appointed in 2014 by the airport consortium comprising Odebrecht TransPort, Changi Airport International and Infraero.

 

DUAL-DESIGN CHALLENGE

Its first mission under Gill was to produce an airport master plan, before subsequently (and separately) TDS’ retail team under Nick Taylor was commissioned by Dufry to design its three main stores after it won the contract in 2015.

 

Commenting on the architectural challenge, TDS Managing Director Robbie Gill said: “Without doubt, RIOgaleāo is one of the most complex, challenging and ultimately exciting architectural projects we have ever worked on. Right from the start we had several immoveable aspects to address.

 

“Firstly, the consortium’s deadline for completion was penalty-fixed ahead of the Olympics in 2016, which in itself set a very fast pace. Secondly, the buildings themselves came with the multiple challenges of their heavy concrete construction, dominant low beams and a considerable amount of redundant and inaccessible space across multiple levels.

 

 

COMMERCIAL IMPERATIVES…

“This set the requirement for us to work with the buildings – and to eke out the best reconfiguration of space – to create a world-class airport for the anticipated rise in passenger traffic, as well as bringing the infrastructure up to today’s standards.

 

“With an over-riding objective to optimise the commercial opportunity, we needed to factor in new passenger circulation flows and redefined land and airside boundaries. We redeployed existing key infrastructure such as escalators and lifts, while facilitating the operational requirements for the new piers and increased passenger traffic.”

 

The Design Solution says this effectively allowed the twin-terminal T2 facility to become the principal focus terminal, featuring two linked piers; adapting T1 as one (North) pier and adding a wholly new second (South) pier.

 

 

HUGE ARCHITECTURAL CHALLENGES

The architectural development includes a vertical re-positioning of the whole passenger process, several changes in airside and landside boundaries, plus relocations of key operational areas such as immigration and retail space across multiple sites and levels.

 

Importantly, TDS’ Gill points to the ‘enormous importance of duty free arrivals’ as one of the most critical aspects the architecture had to consider: “Our solution for the 4,500sq m Arrivals store located on the ground floor, was designed to enable whoever won the duty free contract to make the most of this extraordinary opportunity.

 

“With the consumer US$500 duty free spending allowance in mind, we looked at what had worked elsewhere and the lessons learned. We structured the opportunity to enable shoppers to enjoy a secure luggage parking service on entering the store and to go shopping in a civilised way, with a logistical system that reunites them with their luggage at the till point.”

 

 

AIRPORT COMPANY ‘PLEASED’ WITH THE RESULT

“Although our involvement with the overall project involved both strands of our business with two separate clients, the resultant unique blend of airport, architect, retailer and design specialists has definitely driven a more cohesive and holistic approach.

 

“Having the two-pronged specialist ability to work across an entire project, even with multiple clients involved, enables us to do justice to the building and to provide the best end solution for the ultimate customer, the RIOgaleão passenger.”

 

Sandro Fernandes, RIOgaleão Chief Commercial Officer, adds: “In everything from its recently launched new name and colourful logo, RIOgaleāo – Tom Jobim Airport reflects the movement, rhythms and geography of the city. We challenged The Design Studio to share that spirit across the new commercial space and we are delighted with the results, despite the incredible complexity of the project.”

 

 

SENSE OF PLACE WAS IMPORTANT CONSIDERATION

Nick Taylor, Director at the London-based design studio said TDS also created a design aimed at maximising the commercial performance, while reflecting a ‘compelling expression of sense of place’.

 

He said: “We took a core palette of the most iconic elements that make Rio instantly identifiable across the world, most notably the natural, architectural and social qualities of the Copacabana Beach neighbourhood, the dramatic vertical backdrop of green peaks surrounding the city and, of course, the sheer vibrancy and rhythm of carioca life.”

 

He says this was only possible because RIOgaleão and Dufry were bold enough to share in this ‘spirit of ambition, innovation and commitment’.

 

 

The company summarised some of the key features incorporated into the design (in its own words) as follows:

 

• Rio’s beaches and seafront are at the heart of the design, featuring distinctly in the patterns and textures used in the floors and walls, particularly echoing the organic form of the sands and the mosaic patterns seen on the classic Copacabana beach boulevard;

 

• The reflective qualities of the ocean light and blue skies are shared through the installation of projections of moving lighting caustics incorporated into the central ceiling feature, drawing attention to key product areas, such as Perfume & Cosmetics;

 

• Many of the ceilingscapes above the store pathways include contemporary-styled references in tones and texture to the precious indigenous timbers of the Brazilian forest, particularly in the Duty Paid store;

 

 

• Nature references resonate throughout the store designs, including the topography of Rio’s dramatic natural landscape. The city’s powerful mountainous backdrop and its greenery are represented through the use of green-toned contouring lines, reminiscent of the concentric patterns on a topographical map.

 

• Technology is another reflection of modern Rio and extensive use is made of innovative digital technology, such as on the shop front fascia and, positioned at key journey points throughout the stores, a series of large digital display drums.