Venroy opens their seventh store; an idyllic Italian Piazza in Byron Bay.
Australian leisurewear label, Venroy, has announced the opening of their seventh store, located at 139 Jonson Lane, Byron Bay. Like all Venroy stores, Byron Bay is designed to be transportive, taking the customer on a journey to aspirational destinations around the globe.
Interiors: Sarah I’ Anson. Words by Venroy
Photography by: Tom Ross
Like all Venroy stores, Byron Bay is designed to be transportive, taking the customer on a journey to aspirational destinations around the globe. For Jonson Lane, the architectural and philosophical pillars of a traditional Italian Piazza have been adapted into a contemporary retail setting. Inspired by the Byron way of life and their renowned community spirit, the Venroy Piazza offers a marketplace to gather and rest.
Venroy aims to evoke a sense of familiarity across each store, through a consistent curation of natural materials and an understated neutral palette. The natural ageing of materials is purposefully embraced to install warmth and character over time. Travertine, a natural stone used by the Romans 2500 years ago, envelopes the floors and seven anchoring columns. The use of this classic Italian building material, in its purest form, being raw and unfilled, conjures an alfresco sensibility.
Merchandising elements, including hang rails, display shelves and a point-of-sale counter, are custom metal works made of stainless steel that create contemporary inclusions within the space.
The Mantila sofa set is another ode to a relaxed Italian lifestyle, distinguished by the ancient memory of covering furniture in holiday houses during the long winter months. Other pieces such as steel porter’s trollies, are custom items which speak to the Venroy Hotel concept and emanate the spirit of both travel and leisure.
Founder and Director, Sean Venturi, says of the design “my vision for Byron Bay was to create a store which fosters a welcoming, community environment where people can shop, gather, and ultimately relax in the space. My Italian heritage always plays part in the Venroy identity, so creating an authentic environment which leans into this concept whilst responding to the uniqueness of Byron Bay was paramount.”
“Furniture and objects have been sourced both locally and from around the globe on Venroy travels to evoke a unique sense of place. Sourced pieces lean into the brand’s Italian heritage, including accents such as a one-off Murano-glass wall sconce, a white Nesso 60’s inspired lamp, and a 1960’s Cristal wall mirror. Together, they instill a nostalgia and yearning for a European escape. “
Designed in collaboration with Sarah I'Anson Design Office, the Piazza’s of Rome and their eternal water fountains were fundamental sources of inspiration for the design. Elliptical arches anchored by travertine clad pillars were designed to frame pockets of activity and zone merchandised product stories. The monolithic custom benches, reminiscent of public seating, aim to encourage casual gatherings within the space.
The water fountain, at the heart of the store offers a blank canvas for future activations and collaborations with like-minded brand partners. The counter features a long steel trough with dual spouts, introducing the element of water into the Venroy store concept for the first time and reimagining the role of a traditional retailer.
Venroy’s shopfitter EMAC Constructions completed the project. A green council member and carbon neutral company, EMAC uses sustainable and ethically responsible materials and processes.
For Byron Bay, Venroy has partnered with EMAC to become the first fashion retailer in Australia to completely offset their factory and operations for the project.
EMAC is the first shopfitter in Australia to become climate active certified and offer this initiative, a huge step forward in their sustainably minded future commitments.
Australian leisurewear label, Venroy, has announced the opening of their seventh store, located at 139 Jonson Lane, Byron Bay.
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