Going Green: Country Road Unveils New Sustainably-Designed Store

WORDS Gina Dionisio PHOTOS Supplied

Country Road unveils its reimagined retail space at the V&A Waterfront, with the new store reflecting the Australian brand’s commitment to responsible design.

For the last four years, Australian luxury retail brand Country Road has been actively taking steps to create a more sustainable experience for its customers. This week, Country Road reopened the doors to its revamped, eco-conscious flagship store at the V&A Waterfront. The new store is targeting a 5-Star Green Star interior certification from the Green Building Council of South Africa. If awarded, this prestigious rating would highlight South African excellence in constructing healthy, environmentally responsible spaces.

“We worked on the concept with HMKM, a London-based firm, and in 2019, we opened our first flagship in Melbourne. We are very excited to open our first store of this concept in South Africa, where the concept is designed to reflect and take inspiration from the stunning Cape Town scenery,” says Alicia Buffington, Head of Store Design for Country Road Group.

The Country Road store at the V&A Waterfront is one of its largest stores at 993 m2 trading, and the space was designed to enhance the experience of customers while celebrating the concept of sustainability in fit outs.

“Our choice of materials focused highly on their inherent sustainability credentials, and we looked to source local materials, where possible. We included tiles that are locally manufactured, our flooring contains responsibly sourced timber and low-emission plywood, and the wall coverings contain a high percentage of post-consumer recycled materials. In addition, the lighting design is based on energy reduction and supplied and installed locally,” Buffington adds. 

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