Brinkworth
Adam Brinkworth, founder, Brinkworth
‘For a business such as ours, which is primarily focused on retail design, the economic downturn created some very specific problems, but also opportunities. While growth among our existing clients slowed, in terms of new UK store openings, the demand for concession design and international standalone stores saw some gentle growth. Many clients took the opportunity to consolidate their brand design strategy, by revaluating how and where they procure design services and manufacturing. In this climate, design has to work harder to give more operational flexibility, deliver better return on investment, and attract more customers. Brinkworth has won four major new retail clients in the first quarter of 2010.’
Project
Karen Millen, St David’s Centre, Cardiff
Brinkworth has a relationship with Karen Millen that spans 20 years, and the consultancy says it is still hugely enjoying evolving the brand. This latest incarnation is in the recently expanded St David’s Centre in Cardiff. It includes a number of new features, such as bespoke hanging lilypad lights which run the length of the store, drawing customers through to the rear of the space.
Checkland kindleysides
Jeff Kindleysides, founder, Checkland Kindleysides
‘As a business we have done well over the past two years. There has been a bit more international work, due in part to the performance of the pound. The work we have been doing with brands has been quite active, especially in retail, in areas such as franchise stores and super- markets where they want to be more visible. On the high street work has not been so active. But where stores have not been busy implementing, they have been actively looking where they might be going and we have been helping them with that. Generally, we are not seeing quite so many concepts coming out. I think the concentration has been on the product mix and trying to deliver the retail experience through service and the propositions – shopkeeping practices, if you like. Any design we have been doing has been to underpin that, to bring products to the fore, find ways of making it more visible and to freshen it up. High street retailers are evaluating what they do next and talking to the likes of us about future propositions.’
Project
Levi’s,Regent Street, London
Levi’s has relaunched its London flagship store with a new interior from Checkland Kindleysides, which created the original store. The latest incarnation errs heavily on the side of brand experience. The customer is taken on a journey through an ‘artisan working environment’, complete with huge factory doors into the main space. There’s even a vintage product display.
Building design partnership
Mark Richards, architect director with responsibility for the retail sector, Building Design Partnership
‘Although there is little current activity in the retail and office markets, my feeling is that 2010 is a year of preparation for developers and a good time for us to form and revive client and project alliances in readiness for renewed vigour in 2011. This is also a valuable time to enable building technology initiatives and evolving sustainability policies to catch up and support a healthier, more local diversity in the future.’
Project
Destination Slussen, Stockholm
BDP has been brought in ‘for the significant retail component’ of Destination Slussen, which is a redevelopment of a major part of Stockholm’s waterfront. BDP will be working with Foster and Partners, which is masterplanning the whole site. Slussen is in the heart of the city and the bridging point between two of its major islands – the old city of Gamla Stan, and Sodermalm. The site was originally developed in the 1930s, but argument over its redevelopment have raged for the best part of 20 years because of its key location. The new scheme sees much of retail going underground while forming new links between two different parts of the city. The internal plan is sinuous and the materials used will be predominantly natural stones and wood.
Dalziel + pow
David Dalziel, creative director, Dalziel + Pow
‘After what now seems like a relatively small and short-lived dip in our performance last spring, we have recovered and improved our performance in the past six months. We are now very busy with long- term existing clients who are looking ahead with great confidence after some spectacular results. The biggest issue right now is finding quality staff to maintain growth. On the UK high street the better brands are riding out the recession and there are now more live projects in mature and emerging markets. China, Mexico, Saudi, Dubai, India, Australia and the USA are all commissioning UK retail designers. New disciplines such as digital design, service design and visual merchandising can help spread the influence of design for retail, creating a more seamless offer. This can be offered through partnering. Globally, the appetite for proven and trusted UK design consultants is high. 2011 looks like more of the same – assuming the economy avoids that threatened double dip.’
Project
Shasa, Houston and Austin, Texas
Building on its high-profile work on Top Shop’s NY store, Dalziel + Pow heads south to work on Shasa and will even be crossing into Mexico with the brand. The consultancy has worked on everything from the identity through to interiors, which have a department store, shop-in- shop feel. It uses mostly ‘high-contrast monochromes, with flashes of bright colour and soft gold metallics’ as its palette. The scheme is set for a roll- out to other parts of the USA.
Chapman taylor
Hilary Clayton-Mitchell, interiors director, Chapman Taylor
‘A broad view of commercial retail- mall prospects shows two distinct camps developing, split between the UK and overseas. Our home market, still reeling from the aftershocks of the credit crunch, sees making the best of what you have a much more appealing prospect. Refurbishments, extensions and amalgamations are increasingly common, not least to maintain the interest of an increasingly sophisticated clientele on the look-out for enhanced facilities and better quality – be it in retail mix or dining styles. Overseas, the situation is rather different with emerging markets – China, India and increasingly South America – still showing a healthy appetite for retail expansion, and wanting to have designs delivered to the highest international standards. The over- riding requirement is to be prepared to go out, literally, to get and undertake the work; extensive travel is a prerequisite, but it can be productive as our recent projects as far apart as Sao Paulo, Bucharest and Kazakhstan attest to.’
Project
Dambovita Centre, Bucharest, Romania
A Ceaucescu-era palace in Bucharest has been redesigned by Chapman Taylor to create a 600,000 sq m mixed-use development, including a multilevel retail mall and this 1,200- seat sky-lit food court. In a prime riverside location, the development also includes a five-star hotel and three multistorey office towers.
RPA:Vision
Nigel Collett, CEO, RPA:Vision
The work is there, but clients are demanding value. They still expect high levels of creativity and true retail environments, which create unique customer experiences that are the embodiment of their brand. More so than ever before, we as designers have to be aware of the financial viability of these proposals.’
Project
Kronometry 1999, New Bond Street, London
RPA:Vision was brought in to create the first UK store, in New Bond Street, for this upmarket French watch retailer, which can also be found in Paris, Cannes, St Tropez and Monaco. This is the largest store in the retailer’s portfolio and includes four private lounges for customers and five areas for specific watchmakers, as well as the usual glass cube display units. The windows also introduce a new column concept to the stores.
As you’d expect from this kind of top-end operation, the materials and finishes are of a very high quality, as is the attention to detail. RPA:Vision has a track record in this market, having already created interiors for Alfred Dunhill and Brooks Brothers in this part of London.
Sheridan & co
Michael Sheridan, CEO, Sheridan & Co
‘As a group we have seen a slight dip from 2008 – three per cent, made up of an 18 per cent drop in Europe (65 per cent of total group business) compensated by the USA (35 per cent of total group business), which grew by 33 per cent. We conclude the USA is coming out of recession quicker than Europe. 2010 has started well, opening 50 per cent more projects up to week 10, but more significantly, having a value three times that of 2009. This is a good indicator that things are starting to turn, but it’s still hard work and budgets are still tight. We recognise that the market has changed; it’s not as predictable – consumers don’t buy in to the same thing. It’s a time for innovation if we really want to engage consumers. We felt we needed a platform to get closer to consumers, so have just launched an experimental retail space in London for pop-up shops, product launches, trials and other innovations by brands and retailers.’
Project
Urban Decay and Alice in Wonderland, Debenhams, various sites, UK
Having created this latest iteration of the cosmetic and perfumery concession for Urban Decay, Sheridan & Co was asked to create a tie-in with Tim Burton’s Alice in Wonderland film. Urban Decay had produced a pop- up make-up set which was the focus for the work. Artificial grass and mushroom display units were created to display products, and Alice graphics were applied around the concession.
HMKM
Alison Cardy, managing director, HMKM
‘The current retail climate is still cautious, particularly in the UK. Most economists are predicting very slow recovery, although prospects of a double dip appear to have reduced. As soon as the economic downturn hit in October 2008, and core UK contracts were put on hold, HMKM devised a 10-point survival strategy. One key aspect was to concentrate new-business effort on international markets. Happily, this was a success and new projects in Berlin, Moscow, Sydney and Seoul came in. For the first time in our 20-year history we will derive upwards of 70 per cent of turnover from international markets. Clients are increasingly demanding a disproportionate relationship between the creative expectation and their allocated budget. This requires us to think in fresh, creative yet highly pragmatic ways. Often there is a call for a “refresh” as opposed to a new design. It’s a good challenge.’
Project
Sussan, Chadstone Mall, Melbourne
Australia’s Sussan used expertise from the other side of the world when it came to designing its first flagship store in Melbourne. HMKM was briefed to create a ‘style house’ that was ‘captivating, distinctive, flexible and unique’. The idea was to give customers a chance to discover the merchandise, as well as finding out what to wear and how to wear it. HMKM created a series of room- like environments such as ‘the snug’ for bedwear. Wood panelling keeps the house feel going, and interiors are neutral to allow the merchandise’s distinctive colours to stand out.
Gensler
Jon Tollit, principal, retail practice area leader, Gensler
‘The recession is likely to have a long-term impact on spending patterns, but customers still want to enjoy themselves and be entertained. New technology – integrated hand- held devices, augmented reality, interaction of social networking/ blogs and online retailing – is set to change the way customers interact with products and services and could alter the design approach of retail environments. The biggest concern is blight to our town centres. A holistic approach to retail/ entertainment development is essential if a new high street is to emerge. Developers, landlords, designers, local authorities and the community need to work together in a creative and flexible fashion to redefine the high street in the short and medium term. Meanwhile, on an international scale, a more regionalised approach for a local market rather than global “bland” is even more relevant.’
Project
The Avenues Phase III, Kuwait
Gensler’s London and LA offices have joined forces to work with developer Mabanee on Kuwait’s largest shopping destination: The Avenues, in the Al Rai district of Kuwait City. Construction of Phase III is under way and will see 86,000 sq m of retail space opening in early 2012. This will include 545 retail units and 52 F&B outlets, and has already attracted the interest of some major brands and stores including Harvey Nichols, which has agreed to take some space there. Chris Johnson, managing principal of Gensler London, says: ‘It is as much about place-making as it is retail design… The scheme takes reference from the great cityscapes and retail locations around the world.’ The first phase of the store opened in 2008 and contains 230 retail units, including an IKEA.
Lewis & Hickey
Paul Miele, CEO, Lewis & Hickey
‘The economic situation has affected all markets, including retail. However, we believe that this bottomed out during 2009 and that confidence has been returning to the retail sector since the end of last year. We have been experiencing an upturn in projects plus new commissions, along with further new leads to pursue. The overall picture, however, still looks delicate, especially bearing in mind the effects of the election result coupled with global markets and issues.’
Project
Habitat, Liverpool One, Liverpool
Habitat has returned to Liverpool after an absence of 14 years, with the help of long-standing design partner Lewis & Hickey. The new flagship has opened in the Liverpool One retail and urban regeneration project. The interior complements the contemporary architecture of the Liverpool One development and has been broken up into a series of open and more intimate spaces, via the use of changing heights and lighting, to best display Habitat’s latest product range. The customer journey has come to the fore: floor elements clearly define circulation and sales areas, large illuminated hoops and yellow wall coverings emphasise the route from the ground floor accessories area up to the first floor furniture and textiles departments, and high-profile directional signage helps customers navigate around.
