Project
Valentin Gongoll is a graduate of the Retail Design programme at Düsseldorf University of Applied Sciences. His bachelor thesis examines the role of the individual in global environmental crises and develops innovative solutions for the retail sector. He shows how everyday choices contribute to environmental problems and uses this insight to break new ground in retail design. At the heart of his work is the concept of the „sneakerfarm” – a space that focuses on the circular economy and sustainable materials such as mycelium. Here, people are no longer just consumers, but active creators of their environment. Gongoll sketches a future in which innovative spatial and material concepts help to overcome the ecological challenges of our time and create a more sustainable world.
In his work, Valentin Gongoll develops the concept of the „Sneakerfarm”, based on the principles of circular economy and sustainable production. Inspired by the traditional Black Forest house, the spatial concept of the Sneakerfarm is structured by a careful zoning that distributes different functional areas over three levels.
On the ground floor is the central area, the „Farmyard”, which serves as the entrance and distribution area. From here you can access various public and semi-public areas, such as the „Sole Forge”, a workshop where members work on the production of sustainable trainers, or the „Myco Market”, where products made from mycelium are sold. On the lowest level are the „Fungi Fields”, where the sustainable material for production is grown.
The vertical arrangement of the zones is based on the concept of the Black Forest house, where different functions are closely linked. In this way, heat from the production areas flows upwards and the spatial connection encourages dialogue between the different users of the sneaker farm. This innovative design creates a sustainable, interactive environment where consumers become active participants and the line between production and consumption is blurred.
Das Projekt „Sneakerfarm“ bietet einen innovativen Ansatz zur Lösung globaler ökologischer Herausforderungen im Retail-Bereich.
The work shows that sustainable production methods such as mycelial growth and circular processes require holistic and detailed planning. The sneaker farm could function as a micro-production and exchange system in an urban context, promoting local value creation.
The concept becomes tangible through the zoning of functional areas such as the „Sole Forge” (production) and the „Myco Market” (exchange). The organic material mycelium is particularly promising, as it not only conserves resources but also has the potential to replace conventional plastics. Despite the complex challenges of implementation, the project demonstrates how retail spaces can be rethought through the integration of sustainable production processes.
A concept like the Sneakerfarm has the potential to make an environmental and social contribution by creating local jobs, utilising urban space and transforming linear supply chains into circular models. The concept could therefore not only shape the future of retail, but also trigger positive social developments.
We are excited about the next step of the young designer and wish him all the best and continued success for his further path, both personally and professionally.