Child Studio designs a nostalgic interior within an opulent Victorian arcade
An interior design that homages the heritage
of the Northern English Design.
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Hello, design junkies!
For us, a must-have design pillar is heritage. We admire the history and authenticity that an interior that pays homage to its heritage brings to its visitors and this extends to all kinds of creative processes.
So let us introduce you to the nostalgic interior design shop of Child Studio for the British spectacle makers Cubitts.
Photography by ‘Felix Speller & Child Studio’
Child Studio is a London-based design Studio founded by Alexy Kos and Che Huang. For this interior the designers started by respecting the history of the location of the shop: The County Arcade in the Victoria Quarter district. Built in 1898 by the renowned theatre architect Frank Matcham, this opulent structure features pink Sienna marble columns, gilded mosaic ceilings, wrought iron detailing and mahogany shopfronts with curved glass facades. Child Studio aspired to celebrate the unique heritage of the building, whilst introducing a contemporary interpretation of the arcade’s architectural language.
“New interiors within historic structures often fall into a pastiche or offer a sterile minimalist look that doesn’t attempt to engage with the context. We wanted to take a more subtle approach and to build a layered narrative that would acknowledge different chapters in the building’s history.” - Child Studio Founders.
Photography by ‘Felix Speller & Child Studio’
“Child Studio is always looking for an authentic story at the core of the project, aspiring to create something meaningful and timeless. Tactility and craftsmanship are incredibly important to us (…) Balancing heritage and modernity, this project aims to provide an intimate and informal destination for this historic neighbourhood”, - said Alexy and Che.
The store interior is wrapped in a series of dramatic 3-meter tall display cabinets that echo the geometry of the original shopfront. The chocolate brown gloss lacquer finish contrasts with the off-white textured wallpaper that lines the illuminated display shelves.
The custom-made cashdesk was designed to resemble a writing desk, referencing the classic pieces by the celebrated furniture designer Robin Day. The reflective black glass tabletop is supported by the stainless steel base and the cherry wood storage cabinet.
Photography by ‘Felix Speller & Child Studio’
The space features a striking geometric floor pattern, which was inspired by the arcade’s original architectural faience detailing produced by the local Burmantofts Pottery Company. Child Studio used clay tiles in various shades of terracotta, sand and anthracite tones, in a nod to the materiality and colour palette of the arcade’s architectural features.
The designers sourced a selection of antique furniture pieces for the space, including the “Monk” leather chair by Tobia Scarpa, the “Jumo” table lamp designed by Eileen Gray and the octagonal bakelite clock produced in the 1930s by the British company Genalex for schools and factories. The facade signage was hand-crafted by a local artisan using the traditional ‘Verre Eglomise’ technique with gold leaf applied to the black glass.
If you enjoyed this article, you should check out our article about New Store of Nº74.
