Acne Studios · Seoul, South Korea

“Swedish culture prizes modesty and discretion. By contrast, Acne Studios’ designs are forceful and exude attitude. Our building reflects this contrast,” explains Hicks. From the outside, the store appears to have a simple, rectangular layout, the double-layered sheets of polycarbonate give it a look that Hicks describes as a little bit strange. “Appearances, though, can be deceptive,” she says, “and so they are, in this case. As soon as you enter, you realise that while it may only be a box, it is a box concealing a heavy, brooding, concrete monster.”

The store’s design is spread across two floors, both built from rough concrete. Four pairs of concrete columns hold up the roof and the upper floor; around one of the columns winds a floating concrete staircase that leads to further products on display. Garments and accessories are arranged sparsely throughout the store, shown against softly reflective metal walls that freestand in the open space. “There is not a single decorative finish of any traditional kind,” states Hicks, “and no equipment—no ducts or pipes; no entrails or vital organs; no obtrusive mechanical realities—are allowed to disturb the atmosphere within.”