Self-Portrait Flagship Store Mayfair

The new flagship store in Albemarle Street in London’s Mayfair is the first stand-alone store for Self-Portrait and sets the design concept for further ones to follow.

It is set over ground and lower ground floors and offers a sequence of spaces flowing into each other, creating zones with distinct spatial and material qualities.

Three design elements define the space – the custom designed terrazzo flooring with pink and white marble insets, the open grid ceiling which creates a continuous, luminous horizon, and the dark and heavy Cornish mineral clay render, which is applied to all wall and ceiling surfaces.

Simple geometric forms structure the spaces: at ground level, two semi-circular metal screens with coloured aluminium inlays provide the hanging rails as well as visual shelter, and at the lower floor the main space is shaped in the form of a triangle.

Smaller ante-rooms with deliberately odd geometries are located off these main spaces. Two staircases allow a playfully loop of discovery through the store.

Furniture pieces are custom-designed in collaboration with artist Michael Elmgreen.

Location: Albemarle Street, London

Opened: March 2018

Casper Mueller Kneer Architects, London: Olaf Kneer, Marianne Mueller, Vicente Hernandez, George Barer, Vid Žnidaršič, Alice Evrard

Lighting Design: Lichtvision, London Berlin Hong Kong

Structural Engineer: TZG, London

Contractor: Lamberti Construction, London

Self-Portait Albermarle Street photographed by Paul Riddle