The façade is the first of its kind and leaves the shopfront free of conventional mullion, dramatically increasing visibility into the store.
London-based architectural design firm Urban Salon worked in collaboration with UK-based fit out and refurbishment specialist ISG Cathedral in transforming an empty concrete shell into exclusive men’s shoe retailer Oliver Sweeney’s newest store.
ISG worked with Urban Salon to create the store’s unique façade and interior. The glazed façade of the store features a planar toughened glass skin with horizontal structural rods acting as wind bracing. In order to install the huge expanse of glazing to the shop’s front, ISG Cathedral adapted the building’s existing structural steel.
The façade is designed to be the first of its kind and leaves the shop-front free of conventional mullion, dramatically increasing visibility into the store. The façade is the result of an ongoing collaboration project between Fluid Structures and Urban Salon.
The interior of Sweeney’s store features an independent geometrical timber box that forms the main sales area. An oak and rubber peg system is used to display shoes. A central monolithic wooden element displays shoes and accessories and provides customer seating.
The solid oak merchandising units are crafted in ISG Cathedral’s in-house joinery workshop, where the original designs by Urban Salon were interpreted in working drawings that ensured both finish and fit.
Kevin Dengate, MD ISG Cathedral stated that the project can be treated as an example of creative design, specialist shop fitting and bespoke joinery, all in a space of approximately 800 square metres and a programme that took just nine weeks from concept to delivery.
Fibre optic and LED lighting are used to reduce electrical consumption. Ipads are used in store to allow customers to visualise and customise shoes which can be individually made to a bespoke specification.
ISG Cathedral is a multi-award winning addition to the ISG team specialising in fit out and refurbishment across the UK.
