The Conran Shop

The design of a new Conran shop and restaurant for Sir Terrance Conran on the site of a disused tyre garage formally a stables building, within the North Marylebone conservation area on Marylebone High Street.

The sensitive urban site required the retention of the existing façade to Marylebone High Street constructing a new four-storey building behind. The shop includes a basement for storage and offices and ground floor entrance level for the store with open plan displays and shop windows. First and second floor shop areas are accessed via an open stair and lift well surmounted with a large skylight and external terraces bringing natural daylight into the store. The shop interior was fitted with bespoke furniture and fittings; the design of which could be easily adapted and changed in time due to the modular flexibility of the floor and ceiling services.

The construction of the new store combined exposed precast concrete vaults with fully serviced raised floors for the air cooling and electrical services. The existing building façade was temporarily supported, underpinned and retained during the construction allowing the new basement to extend the full depth of the site.

Master planned with the Howard de Walden Estate, the development formed part of a strategy to revive the fortunes of a flagging High Street. Since opening in 1998 this has been realised, the store and restaurant establishing themselves as a destinations in the High Street with numerous retail and restaurant outlets subsequently moving into the area.

Status: Completed

Client: Conran Holdings Ltd.

Floor Area: 2,300 sq/m