Harrods is known for its timeless elegance. This was the main inspiration for our work on Superbrands, the store’s dedicated women’s luxury fashion floor. Make’s brief was to give the halls – at one point Edwardian private residences – a contemporary signature aesthetic. Our design stripped away everything post-1935. This allowed us to celebrate the original Edwardian structural grid, with its almost domestically scaled spatial sequence of distinct rooms. We created a gracious promenade through the store – a place to stroll and window shop, to see and be seen – though each brand has its own space in a more intimate setting. With reference to art galleries, we envisioned the shop windows as a series of carefully curated vitrines, displaying the artistry of each designer. The new layout creates a ‘boutique-within-aboutique’ effect that caters to Harrods’ luxury clientele. The materials we chose also reflect Harrods’ rich heritage: Portoro marble, black granite, bronze and brass. The original columns have been restored and given new prominence, as have the ‘halo’ features in the hall ceilings. The entire project protects and celebrates this Grade II-listed building, and reinforces Harrods’ status as the world’s premier high fashion retailer.
Location London, UK Status Built Sector Retail Area 5,230m2/56,300ft2 Client Harrods
Consultants E+M Tecnica, Hilary Bell, Lighting Design International, WSP Group Construction manager Monaghans Contractor Jaysam Contractors Make team Justin Lau, Ian Lomas, Mehrnoush Rad, James Redman, Jack Sargent, Ken Shuttleworth, Tracey Wiles
Superbrands
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