Prototype Store O’Boticário Colombia

O’Boticário Colombia: First Prototype Store with a Global Identity and Local Soul
The design and construction of O’Boticário’s first prototype store in Colombia marks a milestone in the Brazilian brand’s expansion throughout Latin America. With over 3,000 stores across five continents, the company has embraced a growth model that balances global coherence with local sensitivity.
This pilot project was conceived as an initial model to evaluate multiple aspects: from technical and economic feasibility to spatial functionality, user experience, and the adaptation of design to a new cultural context. The main challenge lay in reinterpreting the brand guidelines established in Brazil to shape a store that resonates with the Colombian consumer.
Unlike other global brands, O’Boticário does not rely on a single architectural designer. Instead, it partners with local architects and interior designers in each country, promoting the creation of unique spaces that preserve the brand’s essence. In Colombia, this meant developing a layout aligned with franchise requirements while responding to local urban and cultural dynamics.
The design follows four core principles of the brand: creating a warm and welcoming atmosphere through soft lighting, neutral tones, and natural materials; encouraging exploration with an open layout that invites intuitive customer flow; prioritizing sustainability by using recycled materials and implementing strategies to reduce environmental impact; and ultimately, delivering a personalized experience that reflects the style and identity of the local community.
This first prototype in Colombia is more than a retail space—it is a design laboratory where solutions are tested for potential replication or adaptation in future locations. It exemplifies how commercial architecture can remain faithful to a global narrative while being responsive to the unique nuances of place.