Issey Miyake Shops

London, Great Britain

Architects: Stanton Williams

Any: 1990

Stanton Williams have worked on a number of projects for the designer Issey Miyake. We have a natural sympathy for his use of textures, space and movement, and in a variety of locations, we have tried to create spaces that reflect and complement his clothes.

A strong sense of presence was created, with restrained, sculptural spaces, dramatised by the clothes, drawing in as much natural light as possible to what were frequently awkwardly shaped and basement spaces. The designs incorporate natural materials - from Italian hand-crafted marmarino – a luminous and reflective mixture of marble dust and plaster, sand blasted or waxed Portland stone, to oak and maple fittings. Displays were ‘carved’ into walls, with pull out shelves to maximise space.

The client commented that the Brompton Cross store “gives the air, space and freedom to change. Many artists like to leave their footprint in what they produce – Stanton Williams are without ego. They put the project first.” Architecture Today said the Knightsbridge store “shows Stanton William’s mastery of light, space and form.”

The stores won D&AD gold and silver awards.