The facades of the Lidl store also reflect a commitment to high-quality design. We opted for a double-shell facade made of brick, a material that signals building culture, not just consumption. The brick cladding opens up fully at the entrance corner, providing a view of the inner glass facade behind. Along the sides, the brickwork transitions into slender columns, forming an arcade that neatly accommodates shopping cart queues and bicycles, contributing to an orderly overall impression. Discounters are usually recognizable from afar, but here you need a second glance, because the striking logo with the yellow circle in the blue square was not mounted prominently on the exterior but somewhat set back on the glass surfaces. It’s still highly visible, but not blatant. Inside, the sales area benefits from the building’s height, with the exposed wide-span glulam ceiling beams visible. Does the store in Buchforst mark a turning point in discount store architecture? Will all markets soon resemble museums? Here, as elsewhere, investing more – be it money, time, or thought – results in significantly greater value. We are glad to support cities and towns demanding a higher standard of building design from omnipresent companies like Lidl, whose parent company, Schwarz Group, is, after all, the largest retail group in Europe.