Part of an emerging new wave of contemporary florists, July’s Flower by Alberto Caiola juxtaposes Shanghai’s innate and edgy counterculture with the time-honoured traditions of horticulture and floral design. Smashing straight-laced stereotypes through striking arrangements and design, July’s challenges expectations at all levels. The store’s interior incorporates a spectrum of materials, balancing brushed metal finishes with the natural textures of terrazzo flooring. Large expanses of horizontal and angled mirrors positioned on the store’s celling create the illusion of a much larger space. Amplifying the volume’s height, the effect appears to defy the laws of gravity. In stark contrast, exposed concrete beams reveal the building’s original structure.

Flowers are the store’s natural centrepiece. Displayed in clustered pots adjacent to large mirrored dishes, the result is a cornucopia of images, the blossoms reflected ad infinitum to intriguing effect. Navigating the space, visitors experience both a mingling and a movement of colour and shape.