Retail Meets Art in Kiko Kostadinov’s London Flagship

Summary

• Kiko Kostadinov opened its first London flagship, designed by THISS Studio
• The store reimagines Ryan Trecartin’s “Stunt Tank” installation as functional furniture
• Dramatic features – PVC curtains, maroon carpeting, and a red tunnel – create an immersive, performative retail experience

Kiko Kostadinov has recently opened the doors to its London flagship, establishing the brand’s first permanent retail presence in the city where it was founded in 2016. The interior design, executed by THISS Studio, presents a deeply reimagined interpretation of “Stunt Tank,” an artwork from 2016 by artist Ryan Trecartin and collaborator Lizzie Fitch. This location is the third in the brand’s retail expansion, following openings in Tokyo and Los Angeles, extending an ongoing collaboration that considers retail architecture as an active site of performance, spectatorship and social choreography.

The core challenge for THISS Studio was spatial negotiation: translating Trecartin’s complex sculptural video work, which originally functioned as a sculptural theater for viewing a 44-minute video, into a viable, functional commercial space while preserving its surreal, artistic spirit. The architects achieved this through a process of deconstruction and bold material inversions. Physical components of the original installation were repurposed into the store’s primary furniture: chrome pontoon railings were flipped upside down and mounted to the ceiling, now functioning as clothing rails, and cream leather boat seating is distributed throughout the space, with one piece repurposed for the fitting room.

Additional features heighten the theatricality of the store. Long, softly backlit PVC curtains cascade from the illuminated ceiling, partially obscuring columns and creating a dramatic threshold into the space. Repurposed catering shelves, covered in marmoleum, form a central display for merchandise, while a striking red tunnel lined with color-matched curtains guides visitors from the street into the main retail area. A dedicated window-front exhibition space further integrates art into the retail experience, offering rotating displays by different artists.

The environment immerses visitors in a highly customized, monochromatic experience. The original brown carpet was reinterpreted in a deep maroon and extended up the walls, which were then excavated to create recessed, built-in shelving, seamlessly integrating display functions. The result is a hybrid destination that embodies Kostadinov’s vision of retail as an immersive, performative experience — one that situates visitors within the brand’s evolving universe while preserving the surreal spirit of Trecartin’s original work.

Kiko Kostadinov London
Adelaide Wharf
21 Whiston Road
E2 8EX, Longon
United Kingdom