Macondo Verona: A Concept Store Between Worlds
Tucked into the heart of Verona’s historic center, Macondo isn’t your typical concept store. Inspired by the fictional town in Gabriel García Márquez’s One Hundred Years of Solitude, we designed a space that blurs the line between retail and reverie. Bold, offbeat, and unmistakably cool—this is a store that draws you in and refuses to play by the rules.
Brief
Macondo was never meant to be ordinary. With its curated mix of fashion, books, and design, the client wanted a space that felt like getting lost inside a story:
A place where shopping feels more like wandering through a world.
A layout that challenges expectations—no mannequins, no loud branding, no showy storefront.
A nod to magical realism, grounded in real materials, shadowplay, and tactility.
Architecture & Design
We kept it sculptural, surreal, and full of attitude. The architecture plays with opposites: solid blocks and gentle tones, industrial edges and nostalgic warmth. Monochrome Volumes – Smooth, pastel-toned structures that double as display and sculpture. Soft Color Palette – Muted hues wrap the space in dreamlike contrast with raw, industrial elements. Cinematic Composition – Every detail is positioned to feel like a still from a film you’ve never seen but instantly connect with.
Innovation & Technique
This isn’t retail as usual:
No Mannequins – Products are woven into the space itself.
No Traditional Storefront – The shop window offers just a glimpse. The rest is yours to uncover.
Designed to Linger – Fixtures and furnishings blend into the narrative, each one part of the story.
The Experience
Macondo is about immersion. There’s no pressure, no traditional cues—just mood, material, and movement. You explore it like a dream: layered, expressive, slightly unreal.
Recognized with GQ’s Best Store of the Year award in 2023—four years after opening—Macondo proves that when you build a space with imagination and edge, it doesn’t fade. It sticks with you.