“London's prominence as a fashion centre means the Sloane Square store has significance for the worldwide business as well as trading in the UK. It is one of our key locations, along with Berlin, New York, Paris, Tokyo and LA.” Hans Schmitt, Hugo Boss UK managing director

  • Client Hugo Boss
  • Project Flagship Store
  • Cost £ 2m
  • Sector Retail
  • Location Sloane Square, London SW3
  • Date March 2006
Background
As part of their ‘OWN Retail’ expansion plans, Hugo Boss took possession of the entire ground floor and basement at 35-38 Sloane Square, London. The 1,500 sq metre store is arranged over two floors and forms part of the ongoing regeneration of Sloane Square as a major retail destination.
The Challenge
The project brief involved the merging of four separate units into one without causing disturbance to the prestigious Grade II Listed residential apartments above and required “jacking” the main structure to break through the basement party walls, the installation of a new feature concrete and shale staircase, the levelling and unifying of floors, ceilings and exterior display windows and the removal of several hundred tonnes of masonry. The works had to be carried out over the Christmas period to meet the early Spring deadline.
The Solution
Working with the Client’s design team, Lewis & Hickey and L&H Solutions devised and managed the main programme which allowed for the raising of the whole building by 0.5 millimetres, in order that a 1200mm wide structural wall spanning the shop from front to back could be removed – then installing a steel & concrete beam & post system allowing the entire basement to be opened up for the first time. This enabled the implementation of unique features such as glowing fibreglass display units, concrete and shale slate slab flooring, exposed brick walls and original steel pillars. A chandelier designed by British designer Sharon Marston, composed of fibre optic threads and hand blown glass flowers is a feature of the ground floor, as is the 2006 Team McLaren Mercedes F1 car which is suspended over the main staircase on permanent display.