Leicester’s latest shopping mecca, the area known as High Cross, is dominated by the shimmering glass and chrome building that is home to John Lewis department store. Its unique design was created by the company Foreign Office Architects as their first, major U.K. project, and an incredibly successful one it has turned out to be.
The building, which at first glance seems so uncompromisingly modern is actually a hymn to Leicester’s past as a major player in the British textile industry during the industrial revolution and right up until the Nineteen Eighties. The huge glass panels which clad the outside of the building show an intricate, scrolling leaf like design etched into the glass, which gives a pleasing, organic edge to what is otherwise an angular and sharp building. The pattern is based on a textile design in the John Lewis archives dating from 1803, and was specifically chosen to reflect Leicester’s contribution to the textile industry over the last 200 years.
There are actually very few areas in the building in which the traditional shop window displays are employed. The majority of the building simply glitters in a shimmering haze of glass and chrome, and yet it is instantly recognisable, and works perfectly as an advertisement for the store. The building itself is enough of a landmark, thanks to the stunning architectural detailing, which is also carried through in panelling and other subtle ways in store.
Etched glass can be an incredibly effective and stylish way to showcase a commercial space, both externally and internally. Design4Retail can create etched glass display cabinets, point of purchase displays and other fittings for your retail environment should you desire to recreate this kind of look in your commercial space. Or we can help you recreate archive patterns from textiles or other materials relevant to your business and use them in your store design.
