Paul Smith: No. 9 Albemarle Street
Covering architecture, interior design and fashion, the Paul Smith No. 9 Albemarle street store is the complete package. Discover just what is behind those iconic iron walls.
Luxury British designer Paul Smith has always been about the intricate detailing. Whether it is a small section of patterned fabric on the inside of a sleeve or the individuality and bespoke staging for his designs in stores across the world, everything has character, quality and thought behind it. Since its opening in 2013, I have had a fascination with the No. 9 Albemarle street store in Mayfair London. You cannot walk past this store without being lured in by its striking cast-iron design and luxurious window displays, so much so that I simply had to share the enchantment of its design with you.
Extending the pre-existing Paul Smith store situated to the right, the new space expands across three floors selling men's and women's clothing, furniture and selected one-off exclusive pieces. The most prominent and noticeable part of the design is the store exterior, created from bespoke cast-iron panels and balustrade which has been set against the original brickwork of the store which has been painted black. The fine detailing also makes its way into the exterior of the store which incorporates Paul's hand drawings on the cast-iron panels which can be seen above.
The interior has been split into three main areas of focus, each with an individual look and style. The woman's area (top four images above) has a soft and luxurious presence with the use of light wooden flooring, brass fixtures and glass furniture. Inspired by Mayfair's rich art history, an intriguing feature has to be the walls of the shoe department, covered in 26,000 dominos, unnoticeable from afar, revealing itself on approach.
The furniture space has been described as having an open gallery style. Using clear walls that have been injected with panels of vibrant colour, the room has a contemporary finish contrasting with the natural beauty of the limestone flooring. Containing unique items of furniture, often restored and transformed with the Paul Smith touch, this space continues to change and adapt depending on its content.
The men's area has been presented in a modernist style, emphasising masculinity with strong bold upholstery choices for the seating and painting on the stairway. Organic wood and bronze have been used predominantly for the fixtures, fittings and furniture whilst the flooring has been created using the end grain of wooden blocks in some areas and natural limestone in others. The black curved steel rail acts as a feature in itself, standing away from the wall and drawing into the men's tailoring suspended below. Whilst the room remains simple and clear, the modern and sculptural presence of the lighting adds an artistic finish to the space.
