Andy Martin Architects completes the new Richard James Flagship store, a striking and innovative design, in Savile Row, London. The new retail space offers customers a more holistic approach to the flagship’s design that is articulated in simple, bold and quirky design features.
Image © Superfutures
Andy Martin developed his concept by aligning Richard James core brand character with a unique design response, respectful to the context, innovative in its material and aesthetic qualities, flexible and durable in terms of its maintenance and overall performance.
Image © Superfutures
The designers have divided the open space in two main area, ‘Seasonal’ and ‘Classic’, by a translucent screen. The free standing screen was treated with a dichroic film that varies in colour, luminosity and reflectiveness. The screen acts as a vibrant backdrop to the displays in the ‘Seasonal’ area, as well as a circulation distributor, concealing the more ‘private’ areas of the Classic and Changing Rooms.
Image © Superfutures
The stretched ceiling, concealing the adjustable ambient light system, is the element that unifies the entire space. The versatility of the ceiling, allows for easy changes that transform the space, making it ideal for future art driven interventions.
Image © Superfutures
Andy identifies four main Brand Characteristics in ‘Richard James’ recent collections from which visual and performative references are drawn from in his design. There are Reflected Colour, Colour Casting, Chroma and Translucent Inner Skin.
Image © Superfutures
We derived techniques and effects from the above, which are directly translated in the key design features of our proposal. For example, the stretched canvas ceiling system works in direct reference to colour in terms of its reflective and projective qualities and the central screen evokes the chromatic and translucent related to light, texture and colour blur.
Image © Superfutures
Image © Superfutures
Image © Superfutures
Image © Superfutures
*All images and information courtesy of Superfutures.
