HARMAY Guangzhou by NIHILII STUDIO: A Maritime-Inspired Retail Space Bridging Heritage and Innovation

In the heart of Guangzhou, one of China’s most historic port cities, NIHILII STUDIO has reimagined the traditional retail experience with a bold, sensorial design for HARMAY, a rapidly expanding cosmetics and lifestyle brand. Spanning 749 square meters across two levels, this conceptual retail interior draws deeply from Guangzhou’s maritime legacy, transforming commercial space into a journey through time, material, and narrative.

A Spatial Homage to Guangzhou’s Maritime Legacy

Guangzhou, known for its pivotal role in the Maritime Silk Road, has long been a confluence of commerce, culture, and seafaring tradition. NIHILII STUDIO, under the direction of Lead Architect Fuzi He, approached the project as a narrative vessel—one that doesn’t merely house products, but tells a story.

The design concept is rooted in a montage technique, layering visual and spatial cues reminiscent of dockyards, shipyards, and port infrastructure. These elements are not only metaphorical—they’re physical, tactile, and immersive.

Material Palette: Steel, Aluminum, and Concrete as Storytellers

The entrance from the street immediately signals the transition into a world inspired by industrial and maritime aesthetics. A perforated stainless-steel grille and aluminum-clad walls and ceilings form a dramatic threshold. This combination of reflective and raw textures sets a futuristic yet referential tone.

A wave-like aluminum installation—part sculptural, part spatial guide—acts as a visual boundary and directional element, drawing visitors deeper into the space. Throughout the ground floor, a consistent material vocabulary of aluminum frames, concrete columns, and glass curtain walls channels the look and feel of a shipping terminal.

Iconic Red Columns and Crane References

Punctuating the space are striking red steel columns, equipped with mechanical hooks that allude to port cranes—both visually impactful and narratively rich. These structures reinforce the industrial theme while grounding the design in Guangzhou’s dockside heritage.

Verticality and Flow: A Spatial Narrative in Two Levels

The spatial composition reveals itself through varying heights and perspectives. A blue staircase, symbolic of the sea, becomes a sculptural centerpiece. From an elevated wooden platform, visitors can absorb a panoramic view of the layout—establishing a clear and intentional spatial rhythm.

The upper and lower levels offer contrasting experiences: while the ground floor evokes the bustle of shipping docks, the upper floor brings an element of calm and discovery, guided by custom-designed furniture and display systems that frame products like curated exhibits.

Montage and Movement: Retail as Experience

Through carefully choreographed design, HARMAY Guangzhou becomes more than a store—it’s a cinematic spatial experience. The montage effect—achieved through varying textures, colors, and forms—invites movement, reflection, and engagement. Visitors encounter layers of meaning as their gaze shifts between props, product displays, and architectural details.

Strategically placed partitions, display stands, and seating elements serve both functional and symbolic roles: they divide space, guide circulation, and narrate the theme of trade, travel, and transition.

Design That Invites Exploration

More than a tribute to the past, NIHILII STUDIO’s design creates a future-facing retail environment that aligns with HARMAY’s brand ethos—contemporary, curated, and culturally aware. Every aspect of the space, from the tactile handrails to the rhythmic ceiling panels, encourages visitors to slow down, look closer, and immerse themselves in a story that is at once local and universal.

Project Details

  Project Name: HARMAY Guangzhou Location: Guangzhou, China Architects: NIHILII STUDIO Lead Architect: Fuzi He Area: 749 m² Year: 2022 Photography: © Bowen Gu