Recycled Plastic and Concrete create Brutalist Supermarket
Plastic Box, designed by Minimal Studio, reinterprets the supermarket as a site for architectural exploration, combining brutalist minimalism with circular design principles. The building in Mallorca, Spain, is enclosed within a monolithic concrete shell, establishing a clear and austere framework for the retail space. The ceiling is composed of over a thousand recycled plastic crates, arranged modularly to diffuse natural and artificial light while accommodating technical infrastructure, integrating utility and structure into a cohesive architectural element. Reused materials, sculptural counters, and indirect lighting contribute to a spatial system that emphasizes material clarity, structural logic, and functional economy.
all images by Leonardo Cóndor
Minimal Studio Translates Brutalist Principles Into a Retail Space
The project developed by Spanish practice Minimal Studio draws on minimalist brutalist precedents to redefine the urban commercial typology. The concrete envelope, articulated through geometric volumes and clean lines, conveys structural solidity and permanence. Facade openings are treated as dark portals, marking the transition from exterior to interior and emphasizing the contrast with the illuminated retail space.
The modular crate ceiling is both functional and architectural. Each crate filters light and produces geometric shadow patterns that evolve with the sun’s movement. The crates also house integrated LED lighting, ventilation systems, and rainwater collection, demonstrating the combination of aesthetic intent and practical application.
Plastic Box by Minimal Studio redefines the supermarket as a space for architectural experimentation
Steel, Concrete, and Light Shapes Minimal Studio’s Plastic Box
Within the interior, steel shelving, polished concrete floors, and monolithic sculptural checkout counters continue the brutalist design language. Indirect lighting accentuates product displays through shadow and contrast, while reclaimed and repurposed elements throughout the space challenge conventional retail norms. Minimal Studio’s Plastic Box repurposes industrial components, structurally and visually, creating a supermarket that merges sustainability, material exploration, and spatial experimentation.
the project integrates brutalist minimalism with principles of circular design
over a thousand recycled plastic crates form the modular ceiling system
each crate doubles as a housing for lighting, ventilation, and rainwater systems
the project draws from minimalist brutalist precedents to reinterpret commercial architecture
the ceiling diffuses both natural and artificial light across the retail space
concrete geometry defines the building’s volumetric composition and sense of permanence
the modular ceiling turns an industrial element into a cohesive architectural feature
project info:
name: Plastic Box | Akelarre Supermarket
architect: Minimal Studio | @minimalstudiodesigns
lead designer: Juan David Martínez Jofre
location: Port of Pollensa, Mallorca, Spain
usable floor area: 193 sqm
client: Voramar Store
photographer: Leonardo Cóndor
designboom has received this project from our DIY submissions feature, where we welcome our readers to submit their own work for publication. see more project submissions from our readers here.
edited by: christina vergopoulou | designboom
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