It would appear that designer Maurice Mentjens had a lot of fun creating the retail interior for Kiki Niesten’s shop, Kiki Stocksale in Maastricht. And, it fits. The store sells last season’s pieces from the likes of Dolce and Gabbana, Prada and Marni from the brand’s anchor stores. One step onto the polka-dotted linoleum floor and the designer’s irreverent glee is certain.
Mentjens first intervened in this 16th century building 10 years ago with an elegant wood insertion, and was invited back to update the long and lean space for 2016. He stripped away the wood shelving in favour of an open, minimalist plan. Tall, mirrored walls, glass shelving and lean-profile black scaffolding transform the shop into a deceptively long space. The black tubes serve to animate the room with graphic lines, and a surreal ambience that pulls you in.
The dots, while party-perfect, have been the store’s trademark logo since it first opened, with the different colours representing different price points. This isn’t surprising considering that Mentjens often approaches a project from a bold conceptual stance rife with symbolism — certainly not a one-size-fits-all approach.