In Au Pont Rouge, a 110 year old iconic department store located in Saint Petersburg, architecture studio Cheungvogl has created a singular and innovative open exhibition retail space around a robotic system.

The customer scans items to his/her virtual basket and upon purchase, the robotic system processes the order in the background to the point of sale or prepares its delivery. In this way, the future of the retail model has been brilliantly reconsidered, where the visitors enjoy spending time, interacting and exploring the store with hands-free. Furthermore, the exhibition space has been freed from all trading operations and stocks to give way to new uses of space.

Inside, the central atrium connects the eight levels of the building, with a design that stands out by its purity and brightness, along the interconnected rooms that flow from one to another. In addition, the multi-space invites the public to engage in unexpected programs and events such as workshops, fashion shows, screenings, lectures, culinary functions, exhibitions and art performances.

Outside, the building was restored to its original state in accordance with local regulations, and with its intervention, Cheungvogl has produced a new centrepiece for commercial, social and cultural life in the Russian city.