Location: Heidelberg, Germany.

Architect: Claessens Erdmann.

Ace & Tate is a company that designs and creates high-quality glasses at a fair price. Their frames are handmade and thoughtfully designed by their in-house team in Amsterdam. They believe that good design is not just about looking good, but also about seeing clearly. Claessens Erdmann shares this belief with Ace & Tate. The idea behind the design of the Heidelberg store was to frame the local touch of the city. The Schloss Heidelberg, a well-known ruin and landmark, inspired the design. The castle’s red sandstone volumes framed by the lush green of the mountain and the light blue sky in the distance provided the inspiration for the store’s design. The store was designed on a tight budget, but it still manages to create a contemporary setting that showcases the collection of frames. The design features a succession of spaces inside spaces, referencing the framing process and combining the geometric shapes from the castle. The color palette is inspired by the vibrantly green forest surrounding the red sandstone volumes of the Neckartäler castle and the light blue skies of Heidelberg. A local artist designed the neon mural. In summary, Ace & Tate designs high-quality glasses at a fair price, and their frames are handmade and thoughtfully designed by their in-house team. The Heidelberg store’s design was inspired by the Schloss Heidelberg and features a succession of spaces inside spaces that reference the framing process and combine the geometric shapes from the castle. The color palette is inspired by the surrounding forest and the light blue skies of Heidelberg, and a local artist designed the neon mural.

Photo credit: Erik Undéhn AB