Larnaca Airport unveils unique new destination store

Airport retail design specialist The Design Solution (TDS) has helped develop Kypriaka, a vibrant new destination store at Larnaca Airport, in partnership with Aer Rianta (ARI) and airport operator Hermes.

Hermes and retailer ARI appointed TDS to develop the terminal’s commercial planning and passenger flow strategies and also design the locally-themed new centrepiece of the new retail offering, the Kypriaka destination store.

The transformative €20 million development programme is said to incorporate a powerful new expression of location through the Kypriaka (meaning ‘Cypriot-produced’) concept store for ARI, sharing specialist foods, wines, spirits and crafted souvenirs of the island.

TDS’ lead senior designer, Christos Malecos, said: “I wanted it to be a great store experience that shared a genuine expression of my homeland. To give Kypriaka its unique look and feel, we drew upon some key aspects of Cypriot landscapes and lifestyle and translated them into a design language.

“The overall colour palette takes its cues from the colours of the landscape: green hues of the olive trees, winery vines, and citrus trees, and the golden tones of the sandy shores, hay bales and vibrant leaves in the summer months.

“This gives a soft, natural feeling, one which will encourage passengers to dwell in the shop. We were also inspired by the craftmanship in famous villages such as Lefkara, the delicacy of the white lace, and ruggedness of the white stone clad buildings.

“The design blends the themes of the island’s best loved song with one of the most essential elements of the Cypriot lifestyle – the village square – the hub of daily village life. We have classic elements of Cypriot village life expressed across the store.

“Overhead, the giant, sculptural, dual-toned olive leaves provide a dramatic canopy to the store. Stone-effect porcelain tiles of the floor and category wall-bays clad in local stone and timber all reflect indigenous building materials and styles.

“The traditional crafts of lacemaking and pottery are expressed in the intricate filigree and decorative patterns of the display units, selling souvenirs and sharing the heritage story behind the locally-crafted pieces of lace, ceramics and jewellery.

“Vine-woven baskets are another ancient craft of the island and are used for a range of product displays and we blend this traditional focus with a more contemporary edge among the fixtures and displays.

“From the Troödos mountains we celebrate Commandaria dessert wine and a range of spirits and, of course, no Cypriot larder is without Halloumi; having finally attained protected designation of origin (PDO) from the EU just a few weeks ago, it takes centre stage with its own presentation unit, bordered with olive leaves.”

The development project, the largest in the airport’s history, reached across more than 6,700sqm of revitalised retail and F&B outlets and, due to the COVID crisis, took 20 months to complete.

The project also assimilates cultural and architectural expressions of Cyprus across the terminal, including the stunning artwork ‘Volant Migrants’ by Cypriot artist Maria Loizidou, welcoming passengers at the entrance.