![Shoe Shop In Valletta / Chris Briffa Architects - Windows](https://images.adsttc.com/media/images/5007/6efd/28ba/0d41/4800/234c/medium_jpg/stringio.jpg?1414078783)
Text description provided by the architects. The site for a new shoe shop in Valletta, presented a very limited volume – one 3x7m room with an underlying basement – which provided the most significant challenge. From the early sketches, we adopted a vertical approach rather than a horizontal one, and the volume was fragmented into one giant staircase which would combine display, seating, storage and all services into one.
![Shoe Shop In Valletta / Chris Briffa Architects - Sink, Bathroom](https://images.adsttc.com/media/images/5007/6f1d/28ba/0d41/4800/2354/newsletter/stringio.jpg?1414078800)
We imagined clients walking up, down and around the stairs, choosing their favourite shoes and actually sitting next to them to try them on, rather than looking at the merchandise through a glass. The experience of being surrounded by the products, together with the constantly changing vistas while exploring the shop enhances both the shopper and the shopped in a surreal, stepped space reminiscent of Japanese shoe-box architecture adorned by traditional Maltese textures; wrought iron railings, the Maltese eight-pointed cross, traditional lace.
![Shoe Shop In Valletta / Chris Briffa Architects - Stairs, Handrail](https://images.adsttc.com/media/images/5007/6f05/28ba/0d41/4800/234e/medium_jpg/stringio.jpg?1414078787)