Red Hill Health is a health superstore located on the bustling Swanston Street in Melbourne. The store had its beginnings in the Mornington Peninsula in Victoria. The client had a vision of creating the next generation of a health store that goes against the traditional shelving layouts of a chemist or pharmacy. The client brief was to create a calm but professional environment for consumers to shop and have the ability to consult with the practitioners on duty. Red Hill is essentially a one-stop-shop for all health and vitamin needs.
Inspired by naturopathy and the Peninsula landscape, greenery was implemented as a wall feature; a subtle reference to the store's beginnings. The ceiling feature was inspired by the hills in the store's birthplace. Its jagged edges are a reference to the greenery and terrain of Red Hill, creating a cave-like experience. Creating a calming shopping experience was a difficult process as the store's location is in the centre of the Melbourne Cbd. Other site challenges included the heritage overlay of the store.
The outer fabric of the building could not be affected in anyway, which resulted in the limited options for the external area of the store. A soft but contrasting colour palette was used implemented though the use of various natural materials, tying into the concept of a natural theme. Part of the brief was for the lighting to be bright, ensuring that the products on display are lit and stand out. The flagship store aims to create a welcoming and warm shopping experience that references the history of the Red Hill business.