Bahrain Interior Designer Ammar Basheir and London Architects Flower Michelin Limited have designed a retail interior for a west London boutique where garments are displayed within a series of bespoke metal screens
ON Motcomb is set in a double shop-unit over the Ground and Basement floors of a Grade II Listed Building within the Belgravia Conservation Area and the Grosvenor Estate. The streetscape of the property frontages are part of a prestigious destination shopping street and held in high regard by Westminster and Grosvenor, who wish to preserve and uphold their character, where possible.
The proposal encloses the interior from the external façade, deliberately restricting the visual connection between the 'street' and the interior. Once inside, the evening wear is gradually revealed and unveiled, glimpsed through a series of curtain-like bespoke laser-cut metal screens and powder coated fins.
The gowns are displayed behind these screens against a backdrop of ornate wallpaper (that pays homage to detailed plasterwork of a previous era), wall washed with recessed lighting details. This concealed perimeter lighting allows scene control through a range of lighting levels, designed in collaboration with specialist Lighting Designer, Stephen Cannon-Brookes, with the ceiling detail also cleverly concealing air conditioning vents.
Mannequins and gown display areas are provided on the Ground Floor, while the Basement accommodates two elegant and spacious Dressing Rooms with day and night lighting settings, a Guest seating area, Tailor's space, Office, Kitchenette, WC, Storage. The stairwell is formed in grey antique mirror, with wall wash lighting details to the landing and grey smoked glass balustrade infill.
ON Motcomb 'brand' presents the first boutique in London to carry this exclusive edit of evening wear straight from International Catwalks (London, Paris, Milan and New York) and from the very best Designers and emerging brands. The project starts an interesting discussion on the direction the 'high-street' shopping experience might take.