Didea creates steel-clad streetwear store inside ZHA's Mercury Tower

Architecture studio Didea designed the interior of the Super F streetwear store in St Julian's, Malta, as a flexible, modular grid to avoid invasive architectural alterations inside the Mercury Tower by ZHA. The store exterior has a glazed, curved facade that welcomes visitors from the outside and is partly echoed inside the store with a central curved clothing display and rounded steel fitting rooms. The Super F store is located inside Mercury Tower However, Didea mostly worked with gridded and angular geometric shapes, which were designed not to impact the building's architecture. "We avoided invasive architectural alterations and masonry work, choosing a bespoke dry-assembled system designed with millimetre precision," Didea creative director Nicola Andò said. It has an undulating exterior The shop is located in the commercial podium of Mercury Tower, which was completed in 2024, and Didea wanted the store design to respond to the building. "Mercury Tower inspired us to explore movement and how the space gradually reveals itself, from the square into the store," Andò told Dezeen. "The layout, materials and lighting respond to the building's energy, while giving Super F a distinct identity." Didea created a grid-like design for the interior The studio imagined the interior as a modular grid and used display systems, panels and furniture to define the different functions. A black steel ceiling hides the building services, distributing electrical systems, fire protection, lighting and air conditioning, while brushed, polished and mirrored steel clads the interior. "Steel reflects Super F's urban character and provides a backdrop for the colours of the products and the changing light," Andò said. "We were interested in the contrast between its industrial origins and the care put into each detail. Precise detailing gives an everyday material a tailored feel." A curved glass and steel case takes centre stage As well as the curved steel fitting rooms, the Super F store also has steel-block plinths and garment rails, designed to be flexible and interchangeable. "We developed a comb-like system that keeps the heavy plinths in place while allowing the garment rails to be moved easily from the window display into the store," Didea co-founder Giuseppe De Lisi said. "They slot into purpose-made circular sockets, without screws or other fixings." Fitting rooms have curved steel shapes Didea wanted the 600-square-metre store to be a space not just to buy clothes in, but also for cultural experiences. "Super F draws inspiration from global metropolises and streetwear culture," Andò said. "It brings fashion, beauty, art and music together in one place. We designed the store to change character through sound and lighting, transforming into a club where people can come together for events and performances." Other recent store designs include a wood-filled shop selling Danish design in Seoul and a sculptural jewellery boutique in New York. Subscribe to our newsletters Your email address New! Dezeen Agenda US Sent on alternate Fridays, this US edition of Dezeen Agenda is a fortnightly newsletter rounding up everything you need to know from America, featuring news, projects and interviews with industry figures. Plus occasional updates and invitations to Dezeen events. New! Dezeen Showroom New Releases A quarterly newsletter rounding up a selection of recently launched products by designers and studios, published on Dezeen Showroom. Dezeen Debate Our most popular newsletter, formerly known as Dezeen Weekly, is sent every Tuesday and features a selection of the best reader comments and most talked-about stories. Plus occasional updates on Dezeen’s services and breaking news. Dezeen Agenda Sent every Thursday and containing a selection of the most important news highlights. 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