A family-run pharmacy

Located in a historic building in Piazza Indipendenza in Bellinzona, a short walk from the road leading up to the Castle of Montebello, Farmacia Malè recently underwent a major conservative restoration, renovation and expansion project led by architect Cristiana Guerra. The project restored the elegantly decorated façades while maintaining the original triangular-shaped stairwell and introducing an additional section to house the new lift. It also made the attic habitable by installing new dormer windows which, in spite of their contemporary style, blend in perfectly with the building’s historic image due to the use of pure volumes and colours that tone in with the red terracotta of the roof. The remodelling work created a series of modern and welcoming apartments, medical surgeries and retail spaces within the historic building.
Farmacia Malè, owned by the Tamò family and situated on the ground floor of this building, was reopened after being temporarily relocated to Piazza Collegiata for the duration of the renovation work. The owners themselves designed the interiors, keen to achieve the highest specifications in terms of aesthetics and functionality. The store is part of a chain of pharmacies located throughout Switzerland called PharmaciePlus, whose logo consists of an easily recognisable bright green cross inscribed in a circle.
The green store sign is an important feature of this Swiss chain and conveys a precise message in terms of health, customisation and high-quality performance. The colour green is likewise adopted as a key design element in the pharmacy in Bellinzona, appearing at the tops of the windows, on the fronts of the counters and on the base of the display cases. The perimeter shelves with their horizontal lines that embrace and visually expand the space contain large linear display spaces, illuminated by a backlit screen that highlights the products. At the centre of the space there are circular display units, which are effective for promoting dynamic customer flows from the entrance to the counters.
While making rational use of spaces, the designers sought to ensure the maximum privacy for customers. For this reason the pharmacy is divided into various consultation areas without affecting the natural lighting or the overall perception of space.
The distribution routes extend over a seamless horizontal surface covered with Pietra Valmalenco tiles from Coem, chosen in the colour grey. The porcelain tile selected by the pharmacists not only guarantees excellent technical characteristics, including practicality and perfect hygiene, but also evokes the colours and veins of the typical rocks of the local Alpine valleys, in a kind of game of mirrors between the interior and exterior.