KIND Store Osterode: Modern retail inside a restored half-timbered building

# Project snapshot

KIND, a leading German company in hearing care and optics, opened a new 225 m² store in Osterode am Harz. The project preserves and exposes the building's historic half-timbered structure while inserting a clean, contemporary retail fit-out tailored to the brand's hybrid services.

# What was done to the building

A large illuminated staircase was inserted to connect the store's different levels. The staircase is staged together with the restored timber structure, making the vertical circulation a visible element of the overall composition.

# Interior approach and materials

KIND's in-house store design and construction department designed and implemented the interior. The concept uses a restrained, modern palette—anthracite, gray, and white—to contrast with the warm tones of the original timber. Key material choices include:

• Restored natural timber beams as primary historical feature
• Solid wood parquet flooring on the sales level
• Light-gray sprayed ceiling that exposes technical systems for an industrial-modern look
• Large illuminated staircase as a focal and connective element

This combination provides visual contrast while keeping the historic elements readable and intact.

# Spatial organization and customer experience

The store combines optics and hearing-care services in a hybrid format. The exposed ceiling height and the staged staircase orient visitors immediately upon entry, emphasizing vertical movement and visible connections between levels. The restored beams and solid wood floors provide a tactile, authentic backdrop to the clinical and product-focused areas required by a combined hearing and eyewear business.

# Design and delivery

Design and shopfitting were executed by KIND GmbH & Co. KG's Burgwedel/Hannover department responsible for in-house store design and construction. The project photograph included with the release is credited to Jens Pfisterer, Stuttgart.

# Practical takeaways for designers and operators

• When working in a historic shell, expose and restore original elements selectively to preserve authenticity while making room for modern retail systems.
• Use a restrained color and material palette to create contrast without overwhelming the historic fabric.
• Highlight existing vertical volume—retained high ceilings can create a memorable arrival and improve wayfinding.

# Where this fits for KIND

The Osterode store continues KIND's model of combining hearing care and optics under one roof, using the company's in-house design capability to tailor each site to local architectural conditions. The Osterode project shows a deliberate choice to preserve and showcase historic construction while delivering contemporary retail functionality.

# Credits

Design and shopfitting: KIND GmbH & Co. KG, Burgwedel/Hannover. Photography: Jens Pfisterer, Stuttgart.