Zien & Horen Frits Van Den Bosch wins “Best Store Award”
In the “Design” category
We are proud to announce that the store designed and realized by WSB for Zien & Horen Frits Van Den Bosch has won the Best Store Award in the Design category during MIDO in Milan. An international recognition for an exceptional retail concept where experience, architecture and entrepreneurship come together.
From town hall to iconic optical store
Five years ago, entrepreneur Frits van den Bosch started searching for a new location with greater visibility and accessibility. He found it in the former town hall of Wommelgem. WSB was commissioned to transform this characteristic building, both interior and exterior, into a contemporary and distinctive optical store. The building was completely stripped while preserving its solid concrete structure. By adding a large skylight running from the front to the back of the building, natural daylight now floods the interior. With a height of more than six meters spread across two floors, an impressive spatial experience has been created.
A powerful retail concept with its own identity
The entrepreneurial DNA and customer journey were central to the design. Shop-in-shop concepts give various brands their own stage without compromising the entrepreneur’s identity. On the ground floor, the reception area with bar forms the heart of the store, featuring a striking red Porsche positioned where a grand piano once stood. Sales islands and high-end brands are strategically placed to maximize both customer experience and commercial performance. The upper floor houses refraction, hearing care, offices and a waiting area. Industrial elements such as the existing steel staircase have been preserved and enhanced. At the same time, special attention was given to acoustics and comfort.
International recognition for Dutch Retail Design
Winning the Best Store Award highlights the strength of a well-thought-out retail concept where design, strategy and execution seamlessly align. For WSB, this international recognition confirms our vision of retail design: creating distinctive retail environments with a strong wow factor and commercial success. We warmly congratulate Frits and Thomas van den Bosch on this remarkable achievement.
