Presentedby Abu Dhabi

At Zayed International Airport, in one of the most exclusive concourses of Abu Dhabi, External Reference designs Presentedby's first 24-hour nonstop store, developed in partnership with Grupo Avolta, a leader in global travel retail. Set against the arid intensity of the desert and the constant motion of the terminal, the 210 m² space is conceived as an oasis: a sanctuary of stillness within the hustle of travel.

Water becomes the guiding idea. At the heart of the store, a central element rises from floor to ceiling, its custom 3D-printed panels tracing an organic morphology that recalls a fountain in motion. The pattern repeats across the store's cladding, translating the fluidity of cascading water into a geometric language that defines how the product is displayed. Undulating surfaces in vibrant tones, integrated lighting that accentuates their curves, deep navy reflective flooring, and digital waterfalls framing the entrance complete an atmosphere where technology, fashion, and regional identity converge.

Sustainability runs through the material choices as much as the concept. The cladding is 3D-printed from post-industrial PET-G, 70% recycled, using additive manufacturing to minimise waste; its modular construction allows the panels to be disassembled, reused, and recycled at the end of their lifecycle, a cradle-to-cradle approach developed with LaMáquina.

Abu Dhabi marks the latest chapter in a long-standing collaboration between External Reference and Presentedby, for which the studio designed the brand's original concept, now its flagship in London, followed by stores in Manchester, Doha, Dubai, Paris, Riyadh, and Mexico City. Across each location, the partnership treats retail as a living entity, one that absorbs the spirit of its place rather than repeating a formula.