The new SPAR Cardinals Corner isn’t just a store; it represents a paradigm shift in retail architecture and experiential design. The concept, created by the SPAR Zimbabwe Projects team, successfully moves beyond traditional supermarket formats to create an interactive, high-design retail environment that prioritises both aesthetics and operational efficiency.
Interior Architecture and Customer Experience
The interior design is a masterful execution of a “vibrant, interactive marketplace” concept. A critical design element is the communication of brand positioning through subtle yet powerful visual cues. This was achieved by integrating strategically placed colors and patterns throughout the store. These choices were not arbitrary; they reflect the rich cultural symbolism of Zimbabwe, utilizing traditional motifs and patterns to celebrate the store’s deep connection to the local community. This design choice powerfully communicates a commitment to sourcing local wherever possible.
Simultaneously, the overall design and updated branding, developed in collaboration with SPAR International, skilfully balance this local pride with a celebration of the international SPAR family,
giving the store a refined global perspective and quality standard. The theatrical layout is defined by a deliberately colourful and fresh material palette, anchored by updated and modernised branding elements.
• Illumination as a Design Tool: The space is dramatically enhanced by a custom-designed lighting scheme. Focused illumination highlights product zones and display features, while the extensive use of energy-efficient LED fixtures ensures visual clarity, reduces running costs, and contributes to the overall architectural quality of the space.
• Tactile and Interactive Features: A truly unique design anchor is the self-serve station for fresh spices and traditional grains. This bespoke, market-style installation serves as an interactive focal point, providing a sensory, tactile connection for the shopper that deliberately echoes historical market structures within a modern context.
• Engineered Comfort: For shopper well-being, the entire facility is managed by a full air-conditioning system, ensuring a consistently comfortable climate, which is an often-overlooked aspect of effective interior structural design. At the entrance, the store’s “vibrant, interactive marketplace” concept culminates in a masterful sculpture by local artist Ignatius Ornaments, simply entitled “The Baobab.” This focal art piece powerfully celebrates the cultural and practical significance of the baobab in Zimbabwean tradition, serving as the ultimate visual cue for the store’s “local” brand positioning and its commitment to sourcing local wherever possible.
Sustainable Engineering and Infrastructure: In a crucial demonstration of future-forward construction and operational planning, the new facility has made significant investments in sustainable infrastructure.
• Green Refrigeration Technology: All refrigeration units across the SPAR facility utilize green CO2 efficient refrigerant. This choice represents a firm commitment to a sustainable future, significantly lowering the store’s operational carbon footprint and energy consumption compared to conventional systems.
• Specialized Vinyl Flooring – unlike concrete or ceramic tiles, the vinyl composition provides more comfort underfoot, which can reduce physical fatigue for employees who stand or walk for long periods. The flooring also offers slip resistance. There are also environmental benefits, as the tiles are made of up to 80% controlled recycled materials and are 100% recyclable at the end of their life. They also contribute to good indoor air quality (low VOC emissions), are phthalate and formaldehyde-free, and REACH compliant.
• Functional Innovation (Tops at SPAR): The adjacent Tops at SPAR facility features a purpose-built walk-in chiller for bulk beverages. Equipped with automated access doors, this structural addition enhances workflow efficiency and energy retention while simultaneously presenting a sleek, industrial aesthetic that complements the modern design.
THE COLLABORATIVE DESIGN PROCESS
The successful implementation of this innovative retail concept was the result of a highly collaborative effort. The core concept and structural layout were refined through extensive
internal brainstorming, with brand positioning and retail flow guided by the expertise of SPAR International.
The interior and exterior branding installation was managed by Brandwagon, with specialised production and installation support from Pixelhub, Signs of the Times, and All Out Signs. This strategic decision to distribute production and installation across multiple specialised service providers was a deliberate project management tactic to mitigate installation bottlenecks and ensure an expedited, high-quality final fit-out.
