Barcelona | The former branch of the Spanish National Bank has become the place to be in Barcelona. Adidas operated it’s flagship store in here for many years before moving across the street. In Fall 2023 the Inditex subsidiary Stradivarius took over the historic building. A balancing act between tradition and digital on almost 2,000 m² of sales space. Even the former bank safe becomes an experience. A visit is definitely recommended.
The Inditex brand Stradivarius operates more than 900 stores worldwide, one of the most exciting being the flagship store in the historic National Bank, which opened in autumn 2023. The historic facade of the building, built in 1919, is particularly impressive. Planned as a bank, the building lacks a large storefront. Stradivarius makes the best out of the limited space by adding two ceiling-high LEDs – one of which is a curved LED with enough space for mannequins.
On the inside, the design retained the building’s original elements such as beams and structures. Stradivarius relies on a hybrid aesthetic in which historical building materials meet modern shop fittings in white, gray and beige and large LEDs.
Wall-filling LED and self-checkout
A wall-filling LED runs across the entire width of the store, which is certainly one of the largest LED installations in the Inditex empire. In front of the LED Stradivarius placed 14 self-checkout stations which, unlike Lefties, are missing the huge touchscreens.
In the basement of the bank’s former vault, Stradivarius has set up space for exchanges and in-store pickup – a manned counter as well as the usual Inditex pickup machines. In front of the massive vault door is the “Fragrance Lab,” an interactive area where customers can explore the brand’s scents.
