An extravagant optician like Panis Eyewear stands out - all the more so in a tranquil town in the Dutch province of Noord-Brabant. The newly designed interior impresses with a professional lighting concept that stages and emphasizes the atmosphere, which is as daring as it is hospitable.

The optical store in Oisterwijk occupies the first floor of a traditional gabled house on the local boulevard "De Lind". Customers have long appreciated the fashionable and individual selection of eyewear offered by operator Ruud Panis - and now that the store has been redesigned, the interior matches. The remodel was planned by Eindhoven-based interior design firm King Kongs, a young team that has made a name for itself with bold retail and restaurant interiors.

The appeal of this retail interior is rooted not least in the contrast between the flamboyance of the furnishings and the functional lighting design, which focuses on the lighting effect rather than on decorative luminaires and was implemented with BÄRO as the lighting partner: Little, pared-down lighting technology, but carefully placed and aligned, is used to set the stage for the opulent room concept and to structure it in a supportive manner. Special requirements of the designers were implemented as custom-made products by BÄRO individual.

Reduction and opulence in balance

The interior designers aimed to give the space a hospitable character that was more reminiscent of a hotel lounge than a classic opticians' store. To this end, the client gave them a largely free hand. The new interior therefore surprises with an eclectic mix of styles and materials: bold, but at the same time warm and friendly. Old pink upholstered furniture and Prussian blue walls recall the colorfulness of Flemish painting. The columns in the center of the room, tiled with shiny gold tiles, add a contemporary accent. The absolute eye-catcher of the interior, however, is the right side wall, which has been deceptively designed as a raw rock made of concrete. In this charming environment, lighting has the important task not only of perfectly bringing out the qualities of materials and surfaces, but also of structuring the space and directing the eye.

This task is performed by Ontero IC spotlights from BÄRO, whose spot reflectors provide economical, precise lighting accents on the shelves and display cases for glasses. Their design, which recently won the German Design Award, adds an independent and functional touch to the interior. BÄRO individual also supplied custom-made Ontero IC spotlights with an extended bracket to emphasize the dynamic nature of the store design with staggered mounting heights.  

The light makes colors appear rich and natural

Flush-mounted power rails blend into the uncluttered ceiling appearance as precise lines, while Intara CX recessed luminaires, also mounted flush with the ceiling, create islands of light for the consultation areas. The use of different light colors such as the warm standard light color 927 (2700k) and the color-intensifying special light colors PearlWhite and BeColor supports the division of the approx. 140 m² sales area into different zones. A consistently high color rendering index CRI >90 of the light sources ensures that the colors and surfaces of both the interior and the selection of eyewear can be perceived in their colorful diversity in a natural and nuanced way. See well, look good: Rarely has this much-quoted motto of the optician's trade applied in such a comprehensive sense as at Panis Eyewear in Oisterwijk.