Project Revisit: Technology Repaired. Retail Reimagined.

Ecor Tech, Emporium Melbourne

We’re revisiting one of Corso’s most innovative retail projects - Ecor Tech at Emporium Melbourne.

Built around Ecor Tech’s environmentally conscious approach to technology repairs, the brief was to create a retail environment where sustainability was not simply communicated through branding, but embedded into the design itself.

The concept challenged conventional ideas of retail construction by using cardboard as the defining material throughout the store. From the shelving and wall displays to freestanding product stands, stools and the point-of-sale counter, each key retail element featured custom cardboard construction.

The result demonstrated how an unexpected everyday material could be transformed into a sophisticated, functional and memorable retail interior.

A Store Built Around Its Values

The design needed to reflect Ecor Tech’s focus on extending the life of technology and contributing positively to the environment.

Rather than approaching sustainability as an added feature, Corso used it as the foundation of the design concept. Cardboard became the primary material through which the store’s values were expressed, creating a clear connection between the purpose of the business and the environment surrounding it.

The objective was also to ensure that the space functioned successfully as a technology repair and retail store. Through considered space planning, the interior was organised into clearly defined display and service zones. The long central display bench created a strong focal point and provided an accessible area for customers to explore devices and accessories, while the separate point-of-sale counter established a clear destination for repairs, enquiries and purchases.

3D Renders

• 

• 

• 

• 

Rethinking Cardboard

One of the most exciting aspects of the project was the opportunity to rethink how cardboard could be used within a permanent retail environment.

Working collaboratively with The Cardboard Mill, Corso developed custom forms that demonstrated the material’s strength, flexibility and unexpected beauty. Rather than concealing its construction, the design celebrated the natural texture, layers and internal structure of the cardboard.

Curved counters and vertical fins introduced rhythm and movement, while the layered wall treatments added warmth, depth and visual interest.

Integrated lighting highlighted the products and illuminated brand signage, creating contrast against the rich cardboard surfaces. The polished concrete floor provided a simple, restrained backdrop, allowing the custom joinery and product displays to become the focus.

Every detail was carefully considered to ensure the cardboard elements felt purposeful and refined, while still retaining the honesty and character of the material.

• 

• 

• 

• 

Where Design and Purpose Meet

The Ecor Tech project demonstrated that environmentally considered design does not need to compromise functionality, presentation or customer experience.

By using cardboard across the store’s shelving, displays, counters and point-of-sale areas, the interior became more than a backdrop for the business. It became a physical expression of the brand and its values.

Just as repairing and refurbishing technology encourages people to reconsider the lifespan of everyday devices, the design encouraged customers to reconsider the possibilities of an everyday material.

Cardboard became joinery. Shelving became storytelling. The store itself became part of the brand’s environmental message.

For Corso, the project was an opportunity to explore what can be achieved when material selection, functionality and brand purpose are considered together from the beginning.

The result was a retail environment that felt innovative, warm and memorable. A

space where design and purpose met through creativity, collaboration and a completely different way of thinking about materials.