Irish whiskey, the top-selling product category at Dublin
airport, takes pride of place in Terminal 1’s new shopping area.
UK retail design practice The Design Solution, working closely with travel retailer Aer
Rianta International (ARI), created the concept for
the new Irish Whiskey Collection outlet in the The Loop store, which is operated by ARI, a wholly-owned
subsidiary of Dublin Airport Authority.
The Design Solution sought to develop an easy-to-shop
store which stocks 371 whiskies from 15 countries. This includes 121 Irish
whiskeys, 191 Scotch whiskies, 32 American and 31 world whiskies from countries
such as Finland (Teerenpeli), India (Amrut), Taiwan (Kavalan), Australia
(Hellyers Road), Holland, Sweden and New Zealand (Doublewood). Six stand-alone
glorifiers houses limited-edition high-end whiskeys from €3,000 to €6,000.
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| The Irish Whiskey Collection at Dublin airport Terminal 1 |
Curved copper sculpture
The store features five branded units. The
highlight is the unusual quirky bath-tub display for Hendrick’s Gin which ties
in with its brand heritage.
Suspended above the centre of the store’s circular
tasting bar is an eye-catching, curved copper sculpture created by Irish artist
Shane Holland, who took his inspiration from the copper pot stills used in the
Irish whiskey industry, which had informed the original Design Solution
conceptual design for Terminal 2 back in 2010.
Reflecting the growing importance of wine to travel
retail, The Loop also boasts a new concept called The Wine Goose Chase. This
shop features a selection of over 70 wines from France, Australia, New Zealand,
Chile and the US, all of which have an Irish provenance. Only stocking wines
with an Irish heritage, the new wine selection is ideal for travellers looking
for a present for friends and family abroad.
Amber tones evoke whiskey hue
The Design Solution Creative Director Kevin Patience
commented: “This was a fantastic project to work as we were able to create an
epicentre, bringing the feeling of a bar to the heart of the buzz in this
popular store. With a stunning emperado marble surface, the bar is also a
functional piece of furniture which makes the most of the space – always a
scarce commodity in airport stores. We took the original design we had created
in Terminal 2 in 2010 which features extensive copper and contemporised that
heritage in a luxury solution that makes it easy for shoppers to explore and
navigate the category.”
The materials seek to evoke the contemporary masculinity
of a gentleman’s club, with polished copper framing the wallbays, back-painted
black glass at high level, and amber back-illuminated acrylic which brings a
glowing amber tone through all the store furniture to play on the tones from
the whiskey. The exposed ceilings are painted in black to create an intimate
atmosphere.
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| Candy Cloud store at Dublin airport Terminal 1 |
Floating on a Candy Cloud
In other news from Terminal 1 at Dublin airport, The
Design Solution has also created a colourful and exciting new concept for ARI
in the children’s confectionery category.
The new Candy Cloud store targets adults and children
alike, and focuses on capturing the gifting and self-treating segments. The
retail offer features more than 180 lines, including a wide range of quirkily
flavoured popcorns, top-selling brands such as M&M’s, Skittles, Haribo and
Nestlé, as well as a range of branded toys and stationery.
The Design Solution’s Kevin Patience said: “This is a
stunning confectionery store featuring clouds and planes so that, wherever you
look – even right up to the fun of the ceiling clouds – there’s a sense of play
and a childhood fantasy theme. We wanted to create a sense of the whole store
being made out of sweets.”
Mid-floor cloud-shaped gondolas feature candycane legs
and lollypop signage, the ceiling installation evokes clouds of meringues, and
the floor design features a stylised version of swirling candyfloss. The central area is brought to life with a
replica hot air balloon basket. Bespoke scents and a parabolic sound system aim
to bring to life the retail experience for customers. In addition, a children-only
zone incorporates an enchanted forest filled with giant lollipops and
marshmallows.
