Roca Gallery Shanghai, Xuhui District Building, Development, Chinese Retail Architecture

Roca Shanghai Gallery

Architectural Development in Xuhui district, eastern China design by Francesc Rifé Studio

8 Aug 2013

Roca Shanghai Gallery, Xuhui District

Design: Francesc Rifé Studio

Location: Xuijiahui, Shanghai, China

The First Roca Gallery in Asia set to open its doors in the heart of Shanghai

Roca, international market leader in the defining of bathroom design is to inaugurate a Roca Gallery in the cosmopolitan city of Shanghai (China). The Roca Shanghai Gallery, the first of its kind in Asia, is a faithful reflection of the brand’s bid to bring together its philosophy and product line to the public as a whole.

This new Gallery, which was designed by the prestigious Francesc Rifé Studio, will become a part of the international network of Galleries, which already has a presence in four referential cities in the world of architecture, design and trends.

image from architects

The Gallery concept is a reflection on the brand’s intention of maintaining a constant communication channel with society as a whole, and especially with those professionals with whom it shares the desire and interest derived from the development of bathroom design.

Designed by five internationally-renowned architectural practices – London, Zaha Hadid; Barcelona, Borja, Lucía and Carlos Ferrater´s OAB; Madrid, Estudio de Arquitectura Lamela; Lisbon, estudio Ferruz Decoradors – each of them have their own personalities adapted to the nuances of each market without losing sight of their shared attributes, values such as design, innovation and sustainability, all features which define Roca.

Roca Shanghai Gallery has been designed with the objective of showcasing not only the brand’s product innovations, but also its philosophy and history, allowing for interaction as well as the possibility of learning about the brand’s commitment towards people and the environment more intimately.

According to Xavier Torras, Roca’s Brand & Communication Director, “Shanghai is a prime strategic location in what business is concerned and offers unlimited possibilities. Since its arrival in 1999, the brand has endeavored to strengthen its position in the Asian market, adapting to its needs and idiosyncrasies. Without a doubt, the Roca Shanghai Gallery represents one more example of this commitment and aims at becoming a referential meeting point amongst professionals of the sector.“

The Francesc Rifé studio said that partaking of this project is a real privilege; providing our own interpretation of the Roca Gallery is a challenge indeed, as we must create a space with its own personality which is fully integrated both with the surroundings and a society with which it is to communicate.

The building has been designed on a reverse floor plan which also features very irregular shapes. The intention of the design which defines this work is its street-level impact. This effect has been achieved through a concept which compares day and night. During the day, a number of exhibition modules are placed on the building’s glass façade. In the evening, a number of translucent screens which hide the materials of the exhibition unfold and project the Rituals to the exterior. In this way, the façade becomes an alluring, captivating element which interacts with the public at every moment.

image from architects

About Roca

Roca is a company specializing in the design, production and marketing of products for bathroom spaces as well as ceramic floorings and wall coverings used in architecture, construction and interior design. The firm has more than 20,600 employees and 76 production plants and is present in more than 135 countries around the world.

Roca, world leader in the definition of bathroom spaces, collaborates with highly prestigious designers, architects and interior designers such as R. Moneo, D. Chipperfield, Z. Hadid, Herzog & de Meuron, Schmidt & Lackner, and J. Mariscal, among others. Additionally, it works incessantly to develop and promote initiatives that aid environmental conservation. Roca’s commitment has led to ongoing developments in new products focused on water conservation.

www.roca.com

Roca Shanghai Gallery

Roca Galleries are part of Roca’s international strategy and a concept that expresses present-day realities and future challenges. Design, innovation, sustainability and well-being are Roca values expressed in the Galleries, which also convey the desire of the leading bathroom brand to maintain an ongoing dialogue with society and most particularly with professionals who share an interest and enthusiasm in shaping the future of bathroom spaces. The various Roca Galleries in London, Shanghai, Barcelona, Madrid and Lisbon are a vehicle, offering a meeting place and area for open dialogue among interior decorators, designers and architects worldwide.

Opened in May 2013, the Roca Shanghai Gallery is the result of a cooperative effort with the Francesc Rifé Studio. The Roca Shanghai Gallery is a functional and flexible area where the Roca product showroom shares its space naturally with presentations, professional meetings and events of interest that further enrich the sociocultural offering of Shanghai.

Located in the Xuhui district, a large business platform in Shanghai, it brings together different debates, colloquia and meetings on topics as widely different as design, architecture, sustainability or the environment.