A Store With A Gap

An adaptive reuse project that reworks an existing structure through subtraction and overlay rather than replacement. A portion of the front is carved away to create a gap at street level for a small pocket of public space, extending the sidewalk into the site and opening the building to the neighborhood. What was an enclosed, private building becomes a porous extension of the street.

Three programs – a retail space, a dance studio, and a café – are layered across three levels and allowed to overlap, extending activity throughout the day. A perforated metal screen wraps the façade, forming a translucent threshold between street and interior.

Inside, the original structure is left exposed. Finishes are stripped back, and loose furniture and millwork reorganize the space. At the rear, the former basement patio is raised to street level, creating a continuous public ground. Below, the dance studio occupies a more intimate space wrapped in wood beneath a softly curved ceiling rising toward a skylight.

Location Medellin, Colombia Use Mix-Use Retail, Cafe, Dance Studio Size 268m2 ( 2885sf) Client Atmos