blocher partners

Stuttgart based blocher partners were formed in 1989 by Jutta and Dieter Blocher. Their initial team of six, has since grown to over 160, and they now have studios in Mannheim as well as a base in India which opened in 2008.

Although they are a multidisciplinary practice, they are probably best known for their interiors and architectural projects, with their ‘monobrand concepts’ division, specifically dedicated to retail design.

In celebration of the Rothaus Brewery’s 225th anniversary, blocher partners were commissioned to create a ‘fan’ store in a barn alongside the brewery. Retaining traditional values, store furniture is branded with the ‘Rothaus’ logo, just as it would be onto a barrel, whilst utilitarian crates just brought down from the warehouse, provide the perfect VM. Behind the cash-desk a wall of beer bottles creates a branded wallpaper, leaving you in no doubt as to what’s on sale here. Taking further cues from the distillery, we really love the beautifully honed copper piping used to great effect in merchandising fixtures and lighting.

For Basler’s showroom in Düsseldorf, the designers looked to the brand’s latest collection for inspiration. Accents of pink are visible through the perforated silver screens, which divide the space to create intimate yet connected spaces and a sense of feminine elegance.

Attracting an audience of serious sportsmen, their store for Rose Biketown gives each bike an iconic status as they are individually displayed on illuminated podiums. Alongside interactive screens provide their information-hungry audience with all the detail they need. Overall the straight lines of the interior architecture and the monochrome colour palette provide a fittingly technical feel to the space.

Working with Finnish premium department store chain Stockmann, they have created a store that takes inspiration from the flora and fauna of Finland, which features some lovely materials choices and design interventions to create distinctive departments. Fashion retailer, Juhasz in Bad Reichenhall is equally well-considered and we love the contrast between the historic architectural features and contemporary materials – all beautifully executed.

Their architectural capabilities are also fundamental to the strength of many of their retail design concepts, which is evident both in their creation of buildings from the ground up and their interpretation of the interior, producing some great stores, and evident in over 2,000 projects completed in a 1,000 locations around the world.