The Animal Backbone Retail Store
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The Animal Backbone Retail Store
The Animal Backbone Retail Store is a culturally significant retail space and memorial installation located in Shanghai, representing a remarkable transformation of a historical slaughterhouse into a contemporary cultural center. This innovative interior design project, created by designer Eason Zhu and team, masterfully balances commemorative elements with modern retail functionality across its 100-square-meter space. The design concept uniquely incorporates feline movement patterns to define spatial organization, utilizing a circular layout that seamlessly integrates various functional areas including living spaces, dining areas, and observational zones. The project's distinctive approach employs metal plates, mirrors, and glass to create an intentionally austere atmosphere that pays homage to the building's complex history while fostering a dialogue about human-animal relationships. The space features thoughtfully positioned windows and viewing points that enable both inward and outward observation, creating an interactive experience that encourages reflection on the historical context. This Gold A' Design Award-winning project in the Interior Space, Retail and Exhibition Design category demonstrates exceptional innovation in its approach to adaptive reuse, combining memorial aspects with practical retail functions. The design successfully addresses the challenge of transforming a space with a difficult historical legacy into a forward-thinking establishment that promotes animal welfare and urban coexistence, incorporating sustainable practices and supporting local stray animal initiatives through its operational model. The project's significance lies in its ability to merge historical preservation with contemporary design elements, creating a meaningful dialogue between past and present while serving as a functional retail environment.
retail design, memorial architecture, adaptive reuse, cultural preservation, sustainable development, urban transformation
CITATION : "Adam Dawson. 'The Animal Backbone Retail Store.' Design+Encyclopedia. https://design-encyclopedia.com/define/the-animal-backbone-retail-store?E=451023 (Accessed on October 14, 2026)"
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