Pharmacies

Pharmacies constitute a special form of commercial architecture. The market for medicines, which is heavily regulated in most countries, has led to a veritable competition of the atmosphere of space: since where product and price can no longer provide a competitive advantage, customer loyalty must be created with other means. In addition to professional competence and familiarity with the customers, that becomes above all the ambiance. That in turn translates to the modern and hygienic pharmacy, together with a friendly and assuring spatial experience. The selected examples show the design sophistication with which pharmacies today, from a functional as well as atmospheric standpoint, set themselves apart from the historical chemists shelves and the competitors.

From the content:

- Oaza Zdravlja Pharmacy in Belgrade, Serbia (Karim Rashid)
- Pharmacy Teles in Lourosa, Portugal (Plaren)
- DocMorris Apotheke in Limburg, Deutschland (Klaus Bürger Architektur)
- ATC Pharmacy in Kuwait City (Sartoretto Verna)
- Plantation Pharmacy in Charleston, USA (Christoph Rose Architects)

Pharmacies are a special kind of store, because nothing is as important as health. The tightly regulated medicine market is changing, and pharmacists face more and more competition from other healthcare providers as well as within their own profession. As products and priced are generally standardized, pharmacists must win customer loyalty in other ways. In addition to professional competence, friendliness, and an extended range of products and services, the atmosphere of the pharmacy itself takes on a crucial role.

This places particular importance on the interior design, since that is what sets the tone of the consumer experience. This volume presents 75 projects which demonstrate the creative finesse of the pharmacists, architects and designers who face these challenges. The selection includes projects by renowned specialists as well as top designers, who each approach this special design task from different perspectives.