Palermo Airport Retail

This project is part of a masterplan to increase Palermo Airport's retail areas in separate phases. It includes an analysis of the activities based on the type of goods offered, so as to promote a sense of belonging to the territory. A key element, therefore, is the façade system applied to the shops: a composition of shapes and materials that can generate physical and emotional experiences and at the same time evoke Sicilian regional features. The walls were built using terracotta elements in three different sizes. These are pierced by a stationary, center metal pole. The material was produced by skilled artisans and stimulates a strong tactile experience. The idea was not only to encourage physically touching the rough texture of the terracotta tiles but also to create continuously changing walls. The borders of the tiles are glazed, using tones that chromatically bring to mind the sea, salt mines and citrus plantations.