Birkenstock Opens Its First Store in Bologna, Featuring Terracotta
Yesterday, Birkenstock opened its first store in Bologna, following recent openings in Milan, Verona, and Rome. This 130-square-meter space showcases terracotta, the city’s iconic material. It is incorporated into the store’s flooring as well as in various handcrafted objects made primarily of clay, including a one-meter-long reproduction of a sole proudly displayed on the wall.
An authentic design blending tradition and raw materials
One of the store’s standout features is its portico, which echoes the famous arcades casting their shadows on pedestrians at 30 Via Farini. The rammed earth furniture—an ancient technique introduced to Europe by the Romans that involved compressing earth and stone to build durable walls—shares the space with aged leather and naturally weathered local wood. There is no shortage of nods to the brand’s heritage and design, with the presence of cork elements and Italian workshop stools from the 1950s. Finally, the lighting fixtures are crafted from natural jute fibers, directly sourced from the Birkenstock sole production process.