Located on Calle Ribera de Curtidores in Madrid, Curtidores 32 introduces a retail concept that shifts away from conventional display logic. Designed by JOTAJOTA+ for Colchón Exprés, the project repositions the mattress store as a series of domestic environments, where the act of browsing unfolds through spatial experience rather than fixed circulation.
RETAIL
The architects structure the interior through a continuous wooden perimeter that holds both headboards and commercial information. This element operates as a stable frame, allowing the central space to remain open and adaptable. Within this framework, the project avoids rigid zoning. Instead, it develops a sequence of loosely defined areas that invite movement, pause, and interaction. The visitor navigates the store without a prescribed route, encountering different atmospheres that echo familiar domestic settings.
Three gestures define the project’s spatial logic. The entrance establishes the first point of contact. A façade marked by a large yellow moulding and a sheet-metal stair introduces a diagonal access that cuts into the plan. This move draws the street inward, creating a direct visual and physical connection between exterior and interior. The entry does not simply open the store. It sets a direction that informs the flow of movement across the entire space.
The floor continues this strategy. Large-format neutral tiles form a continuous base, maintaining visual clarity and cohesion. On top of this surface, yellow carpets define individual zones, each corresponding to a specific domestic scenario. These insertions operate as markers without enclosing the space, allowing boundaries to remain perceptual rather than physical. The contrast between tile and carpet creates a rhythm that guides the visitor while maintaining openness.
Suspended elements complete the system. Tracks and curtains introduce a vertical layer that filters views and modulates privacy. These components move lightly within the space, shaping moments of enclosure where visitors can test the mattresses without interruption. The curtains do not isolate completely. They allow partial visibility, balancing intimacy with connection to the larger environment.
Together, these strategies transform the store into a fluid interior that responds to both individual use and collective presence. The layout encourages exploration, allowing each visitor to define their own path. As one moves through the space, the sequence of materials, colors, and spatial conditions shifts gradually, reinforcing the idea of inhabiting rather than shopping.
Curtidores 32 positions retail as a constructed experience grounded in familiarity. Through controlled interventions in flooring, perimeter, and suspended elements, JOTAJOTA+ builds an environment where domestic references guide perception. The project reframes the commercial setting into a space that supports testing, comfort, and personal engagement, aligning spatial design with the product it presents.
