Design firm Yont Studio has transformed Berlin's iconic KaDeWe department store with an innovative sound installation that bridges nostalgia and design. This analog experience, crafted from salvaged car seats and more than 140 cassette tapes, offers a unique auditory journey reminiscent of road trips past.
What Happened
Yont Studio, in collaboration with Telekom Electronic Beats and local fashion brand Namilia, has created a striking installation on the second floor of the century-old KaDeWe. This effort coincides with the recent renovation of the store by OMA. The installation pays homage to the 1977 Iggy Pop song 'The Passenger', evoking the experience of watching the world pass by through a car window. Visitors are invited to sit in a circle of second-hand black leather car seats and listen to a curated selection of rare cassette tapes. Coşan Karadeniz, co-founder of Yont Studio, describes the installation as a slow, physical ritual that contrasts with today's digital world. This project also marks the launch of a new fashion collection by Namilia, which features designs displayed alongside the cassette players in bright-pink foam wedges, crafted with metal shelving and clothes rails.
What This Means for Your Business
For architecture and design professionals, this installation exemplifies the growing trend of integrating nostalgia with modern retail experiences. It underscores the potential for creative collaborations across industries—fashion, music, and architecture—offering a blueprint for enhancing customer engagement through sensory experiences. Such installations can drive foot traffic and elevate brand presence within retail spaces, providing a competitive edge in the crowded marketplace.
What US Operators Should Watch
Operators should monitor the evolution of retail environments where experiential design plays a pivotal role in consumer engagement. As nostalgia-driven installations gain traction, businesses should consider partnerships that leverage cultural touchpoints to create memorable experiences. Additionally, keeping an eye on developments in consumer preferences for tactile and analog experiences can inform future design and marketing strategies.
Source: https://www.dezeen.com/2026/09/23/kadewe-yont-studio-namilia-passenger-kadewe/. Read the original story ->
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