A groundbreaking retail installation in Hangzhou, China, is transforming how technology integrates with everyday commercial spaces. The STARAY Store, designed by Fununit Design&More, represents an innovative approach to retail architecture that brings 3D printing technology directly into the consumer experience through a 120-square-meter experimental space completed in 2025.

STARAY, a brand dedicated to making 3D printing accessible in daily life, challenged the architects to create a space that embodies freedom and breath within an existing architectural context. The designers responded by asking a fundamental question: How can a space be rapidly constructed while maintaining harmony with its surroundings? The answer came in the form of a revolutionary spatial intervention that redefines the boundaries between interior and exterior environments.

The project's most striking feature is its penetrating structural system, which the architects describe as "Constructing Air." Beneath the building's eaves, a new spatial curtain wall emerges through detachable uprights—some anchored vertically to the ground, others suspended in mid-air. This innovative structure creates a visual dialogue between the interior site and the existing architecture, effectively piercing through the building's conventional boundaries.

The installation demonstrates remarkable spatial fluidity by extending both inside and outside the existing structure. On the interior, the framework transforms into functional seating for customers trying on shoes, while on the exterior, it creates a contemplative "breathing space" where sunlight and mist filter through to form dappled shadows beneath green foliage. This dual functionality exemplifies the project's commitment to creating multifaceted environments that serve both practical and aesthetic purposes.

Central to the design philosophy is the concept that "Vision is the shape of wind, Structure is the vessel of air." Using sustainable materials, the architects created what they term a spatial experiment involving matter, air, and comfort. A 3D-printed lattice extends throughout the space as a woven visual field, transforming the entire environment into an enlarged diagram of molecular structures that visitors can experience firsthand.

The innovative use of materials extends beyond traditional construction methods. Through an "architectural molecular structure," the combination of foam rods and climbing ropes creates an immersive environment where visitors feel as if they are literally inside a pair of breathing shoes. This unique approach reinforces the brand's connection to footwear while creating an entirely new spatial experience that challenges conventional retail design.

The project achieves its environmental goals through what the architects describe as a naturally irregular yet orderly coexistent enclosure. This ecological interface maintains an ongoing dialogue with the structural elements, creating a harmonious relationship between built and natural environments. The entire installation serves as both functional retail space and architectural statement about the future of commercial design.

Photographed by AOGVISION, the completed project stands as a testament to how emerging technologies can be integrated into architectural practice to create spaces that are both commercially viable and artistically compelling. The STARAY Store represents a new model for retail architecture that prioritizes experiential design over traditional commercial formats, suggesting future directions for how brands can engage with customers through innovative spatial design.