Helvetas Fairshop

Zürich, Switzerland

Photo © Studio Willen

Retail + Stores

Architects: MACH Architektur

Location: Weinbergstrasse 24, 8001 Zürich, Switzerland
Year: 2014
Client: Helvetas

Every year, thousands of people across the globe enjoy a better quality of life thanks to international development organisation, Helvetas Swiss Intercooperation. To attract support and funding for its humanitarian projects, Helvetas launched a FairShop boutique in the centre Zürich with an interior concept designed by MACH.

The store is located in a 19th century building turned into a generic shell by suspended ceilings and synthetic floors. We stripped all this away to reveal beautiful original features such as a herringbone parquet and high ceilings.

After we restored the building’s magic, we designed a collection of timeless furniture in birch and fir to create a bridge between the old space and the store’s modern products. To highlight Helvetas support for local craftsman around the world, our pieces were made by master carpenters in Zurich.