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Paraguayan architect wins bids for first H&M stores in country
🇵🇾 Paraguay /Economy & Trade

Paraguayan architect wins bids for first H&M stores in country

From ABC Color · () Spanish

Translated from Spanish, summarized and contextualized by DistantNews.

At a glance

News Sources not specified Context piece
  • Paraguayan architecture firm Aquino+ won two international bids to design and build the first H&M stores in Paraguay.
  • The firm, led by architect César Aquino, will design and construct a 3,500-square-meter store at Paseo La Galería and coordinate another at Distrito Perseverancia.
  • This achievement demonstrates Paraguayan talent's ability to compete at the highest international level, adhering to global brands' strict design standards.

Paraguayan architecture firm Aquino+ has secured two international contracts to design and build the first H&M stores in Paraguay. The firm, led by architect César Aquino, will be responsible for the design, construction, and architectural coordination of two significant retail spaces.

The first store, a 3,500-square-meter space at Paseo La Galería, will mark the official debut of the Swedish fashion giant in the Paraguayan market. Additionally, Aquino+ is handling the comprehensive architectural coordination for a second store located in Distrito Perseverancia.

These victories were not the result of a direct commission but emerged from a highly competitive international bidding process. Aquino+ presented proposals for both stores and successfully won both projects. "We managed to win both projects and subsequently participated in the bidding for the construction of the Paseo La Galería store," Aquino told ABC Negocios.

We managed to win both projects and subsequently participated in the bidding for the construction of the Paseo La Galería store.

— César AquinoAquino explaining how his firm secured the H&M projects.

The firm's established track record, including projects for Decathlon, Carolina Herrera, and Purificación García, as well as corporate offices for PwC, Deloitte, and Monsanto, was instrumental in gaining the trust of the global client. Working with a brand like H&M requires adherence to strict design and identity manuals that leave no room for interpretation. Aquino emphasized that the local architect's role is not to reinvent the brand but to ensure the consumer experience in Asunción mirrors that of stores in Stockholm, Berlin, or Mexico City.

"The architecture must support the brand experience without becoming the protagonist. Behind a simple and orderly image lies enormous work in engineering and coordination," Aquino stated. This necessitates constant collaboration with international teams, meticulous technical precision throughout all stages, and rigorous adaptation to the Paraguayan context, including local regulations, material availability, and the specific characteristics of the construction market. A key differentiator in such assignments is the extreme detail required in the executive project, far exceeding conventional developments.

The architecture must support the brand experience without becoming the protagonist. Behind a simple and orderly image lies enormous work in engineering and coordination.

— César AquinoAquino describing the role of architecture in maintaining a global brand's identity.
DistantNews Editorial

Originally published by ABC Color in Spanish. Translated, summarized, and contextualized by our editorial team with added local perspective. Read our editorial standards.

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