A Gap That Builds a Relationship with the City
Can a private building become a shared urban resource? Located in Medellín’s El Poblado district, Store With A Gap proposes a new possibility through subtraction rather than demolition. Part of the street-facing frontage was removed to create a small public space, naturally connecting the sidewalk with neighboring buildings. The resulting gap opens up new relationships between the building, the street, the city, and its people.
The project revolves around the idea of a “gap.” Created by setting back the front of the building, the courtyard draws pedestrian movement into the site and acts as an extension of the street. Rather than serving as a boundary, the building becomes part of the urban fabric, accommodating movement, views, and everyday activity.
Inside, three programs—a retail shop, dance studio, and café—are distributed across three levels. Instead of separating them, the design connects them to encourage varied patterns of use throughout the day. Taking advantage of Medellín’s mild climate, shared spaces are expanded and complemented by outdoor seating that blurs the boundary between inside and outside. The façade is wrapped in a perforated screen. Translucent in character, it creates a buffer zone between exterior and interior, allowing light, air, and movement to pass through. As silhouettes from within become faintly visible, the relationship between the building and the street grows more intimate.
The existing structure was largely preserved. Finishes were stripped away to reveal the original materials and construction, while furniture and custom-made timber elements were used to reorganize the space. The aim was to accommodate new functions without erasing traces of the past. Circulation links all three levels into a continuous spatial experience. At the rear, a former sunken courtyard was raised to street level, creating a continuous ground plane that connects the front and back of the building. Below, the dance studio is defined by timber finishes and a gently curved ceiling that creates a warm atmosphere. The ceiling rises toward a skylight, drawing daylight deep into the space.
Project: Store With A Gap / Location: Medellín, Colombia / Architect: Studio Cadena (Benjamin Cadena) / Project team: Benjamin Cadena, Thomas Gomez, Ospina, Alma Karlsson / Millwork: DANKO / Lighting engineer: Highlights S.A.S. / Plantings: Carolina Ascencio / Contractor: D&H Constructores / Client: Atmos / Use: retail flagship, dance studio, cafe / Gross floor area: 268m2 / Completion: 2026.5 / Photograph: ©Juan Camilo Ro (courtesy of the architect); courtesy of the architect
