The Stella Collective envisioned a Moorish-inspired Utopia for the Zoobibi concept store in Hawthorn East, Melbourne, where retail and globe-trotting collide. The home and lifestyle brand is inspired by the beauty of Asian artisans and Middle Eastern marketplaces, a sentiment that Stella Collective leaned into in creating an immersive retail experience.

The feminine yet futuristic concept store transports visitors into the brand’s personality, in amongst finds from around the world. Stella Collective director Hana Hakim was specifically inspired by memories of her family home in Aleppo, Syria. Retail vignettes are arranged around an internal light-filled courtyard in which customers can interject their shopping experience with a tranquil coffee or wine break. A water feature in the courtyard is a respectful reincarnation of Hakim’s father’s own ancient courtyard in their Aleppo home, now destroyed by the war.

Just as much as serving to show Zoobibi wares in practical and realistic living scenarios, Stella Collective say they’ve “created an environment where you might find yourself running your fingers over the surfaces simply to admire their intention for being there, or smiling as you notice the kinship of natural light and use of materials to reflect this positive gift from nature. Designed for perfect flow and special harmony there is a sense of relief given to our crowded world.”

Adding to a sense of the mystical, a lunar-inspired tiled curve sweeps around the polished stone floor. Organic, curving forms take precedence over harsh or geometric angles, with arched openings delineating the various retail areas and lifestyle displays. The colour palette barely strays from a calm and coordinated combination of cream, grey, pale peach and terracotta tones. Skylights permeate the expansive space with natural light, tricking customers into feeling like they’re wandering through a beachside abode rather than an inner-Melbourne store.

[Images courtesy of The Stella Collective. Photography by Sean Fennessy.]