SIBARIUM

DESIGN CONCEPT

The SIBARIUM delicatessen concept is conceived as an open, welcoming boutique of gastronomy that operates as a hybrid between bar, market and specialty store. The design emphasizes visibility and accessibility from the corridor, using a strong black portal with illuminated signage to frame the interior as a curated stage for premium products. The spatial narrative celebrates Mediterranean and Iberian culinary culture, translating it into a contemporary retail language that is easily replicable across diverse locations in México, Portugal and Spain.

The project is based on a clear brand architecture: a monochrome envelope that highlights warm timber volumes and linear lighting, generating a refined yet informal atmosphere. The space invites customers to approach, stay and taste, establishing a direct connection between the product, the artisan preparation area and the customer journey.

LAYOUT AND CUSTOMER FLOW

The layout is structured around a central bar-counter that functions as both service core and social hub. Positioned perpendicular to the façade, it visually anchors the space and naturally directs circulation. Customers are drawn first to the tasting counter, then guided along perimeter shelving where product categories are clearly identified with integrated signage such as “Vinos y Tequila” or “Orgánico y Saludable.”

The open front, without physical doors, blurs the threshold between mall circulation and interior, while a change in flooring and a circular inlay on the ground defines the SIBARIUM domain. Islands and low gondolas are strategically placed to maintain clear sightlines and avoid visual barriers, allowing staff to maintain full control and enhancing security and service interaction. The configuration is compact but highly efficient, optimized for high-traffic retail environments such as airports, stations or malls.

MATERIALITY AND COLOR PALETTE

The material palette combines light oak tones, white accents and a deep matte black background, creating a calm and sophisticated canvas for the colorful packaging of gourmet products. Timber is applied in slatted cladding on ceilings and counters, as well as in shelving, generating visual continuity between horizontal and vertical planes. The counter front uses alternating horizontal bands in wood and light material, reinforcing the layered identity of the brand.

The black back walls serve as a neutral backdrop that intensifies the presence of merchandise and illuminated typography. Stone-look or patterned tiles articulate the floor beneath the bar area, introducing texture and subtly recalling traditional market pavements. This balance between natural warmth and contemporary finishes underlines the store’s dual character: artisanal in content, precise and modern in form.

LIGHTING AND CEILING DESIGN

Ceiling design plays a key role in the spatial identity of SIBARIUM. Curved white light channels trace soft, continuous lines that follow the geometry of the bar and guide the customer’s path through the store. These luminous paths emphasize depth and generate a sense of dynamism even in relatively small footprints.

Track spotlights provide focused accent lighting on product displays, ensuring correct color rendering for wines, preserves and delicacies. Above the bar, slatted wooden elements extend from the vertical wall to the ceiling, creating a canopy effect that frames the ham display area and accentuates the gastronomic ritual. The combination of indirect linear light and precise spots creates layered illumination, while allowing adaptation to different locations and ceiling heights.

FURNITURE, BRANDING AND USER EXPERIENCE

Furniture is purposely simple and robust, with high stools and bar tables in solid wood and black metal structures to withstand intensive use. Perimeter shelving integrates rounded upper frames for signage, giving the space a recognizable and cohesive language. The graphic identity, with its bold white typography over black surfaces, is seamlessly embedded into architectural elements such as the façade beam, back wall and category headers.

The design encourages interaction through standing and seated tasting options. Visual contact between preparation area and customer is constant, reinforcing transparency and craftsmanship. Universal circulation widths and clear, legible graphics facilitate orientation for international users, while the warm materiality ensures a comfortable and inviting atmosphere despite the high commercial intensity.

SUSTAINABILITY AND REPLICABILITY

Sustainability is addressed through a combination of material selection, modular systems and efficient lighting. The predominant use of certified wood products supports responsible forestry and reduces the carbon footprint compared to fully synthetic fit-outs. Modular shelving, counters and ceiling slats are designed for off-site fabrication and quick assembly, minimizing construction waste and enabling partial reuse or reconfiguration when relocating or updating stores.

LED lighting is used throughout, with linear profiles and adjustable projectors optimized to reduce energy consumption while ensuring excellent visual comfort and product rendering. The restrained material palette simplifies logistics for the 58 locations and allows bulk procurement, reducing transport and production impacts. The overall strategy aims for a long-lasting aesthetic that can adapt to different shells and cultures, avoiding trends that would require early replacement and thereby contributing to a more sustainable lifecycle of the retail network.