19/06/2024
DEPARTMENT
Among myriad other factors, changing retail habits and rising rents are presenting the UK with empty big-box retail units. As part of our ongoing design and research partnership with we proposed a model solution of a day-to-night retail, work and entertainment ecosystem
Occupying a former department store the project is a facsimile high street constructed from plywood, timber and natural building materials. Awnings, clocks, ornament and pattern are sampled from the surrounding context, and a palette of soft, warm colours washes the existing building fabric.
At the front, cafe, workspace, micro-retail.
In the middle, bar, incubator retail, barbers, nail bar.
At the back record store, event space, listening bar.
Upstairs, low-cost creative studios and community spaces.
Congratulations to .design for their winning project this year proposing another solution to the Debenhams problem. Collective conversation is needed, with communities, developers, architects and retailers at the table.
