Trying to design and install a staircase entrance with passenger lift into an existing space of only 25sqm to reach across 1.5 floors was a first for me. But here is a bit about some of the obstacles I had discovered and thankfully a very satisfactory end result.

The Logistics

The space earmarked for the entrance was not only compact and situated adjacent to the very busy working supermarket but also hovered half above the Stores basement Parking and the other half over the not so little London Underground. All of this is not to mention the residential flats above.

Internal Ground Floor Lobby of Proposed Area

…….Oh yes and as you can see, it was a shell at best, with no true floor level and a Spaghetti Junction of foul drains which originated from the residential flats. In some areas these had been left unsupported and with no recent drain survey there was no way of knowing which ones were live and which, if any, were redundant. Thankfully there are companies you can engage for such discovery tasks and I was spared the rubber gloves.

Foul Drain Junction with no support

We were lucky enough to have a great Mechanical and Electrical Team with years of experience not only in the industry but on this particular building with an earlier project. A wealth of knowledge that is almost never that readily available on every project, and the full co-operation of the residence above made for a relatively smooth transition, considering.

The Design

Final cds-wilman Stair design for Waitrose Cookery School Entrance

One of the, if not the only design constraints for this area was that the stairs had to correspond with the design which was happening on the first floor. However , the main Cookery School area had initially been designed some months prior, with the understanding that Guests would gain entrance through an existing stair well in the store below. The requirement for the separate entrance was only confirmed after allocation on the First Floor had been earmarked to the requirements of the large plant room and extract filtration systems need to ensure none of the lovely cooking smells from the proposed area emanated to the residence above.

But after several drafts I think the rather convoluted twists and turns incorporated to obtain the best working design can be forgiven, and almost add to the drama. Although this was not all easy as the new public space being created on the first floor did mean a change of use application through local planning and that I would have to ensure the new access space including lift and stairs would conform to the building reg guidelines, a requirement but it did mean the redesigns had to be done with a lot more consideration.

Grnd Floor Existing Lift Entrance

All the designing and planning you can do before starting on site is of benefit but it does not mean there will be no surprises once you do get on site. And nothing stops work on the first day of demolition on the existing goods lift, than the discovery of a bit of good old fashioned Asbestos wedged in the existing lift shaft under the supporting steel to unexpectedly shorten your programme window.

 Installation

Cookery School entrance view from ground floor

Cookery School stairs View from First Floor

I am very pleased with the final aesthetic finishes of the stair case, although some  derived through compromise on budget, the overall feel flows. It captures the Art Deco exterior of the existing building and pulls through the look and feel of the School upstairs with the use of the white oak treads and clean line artwork.

But even with the impact on design and a shortened programme, several teams having to co-ordinate with-in this cramped space it is still to date one of my most favourite areas that I have designed.

I’m just sorry it took so long for me to share it with you.

As I work Primarily in Commercial Interiors right now, this was the perfect opportunity to flex some more domestic design muscles. As such I had no particular destinations or route to execute, just the need to absorb as much as I could. So starting in the corners of each hall and working from right to left/left to right was my strategy, as it is easy enough to get lost. Saying that I had nothing particular in mind is not strictly true, I did have a project in the back of my mind which requires some Art Deco influences. However, this was not a trend being observed at Interiors 2010, although the Tiffany Lamps were tempting, more so, as I have a personal desire to own one, one day.

Some of the more obvious trends I saw being followed by exhibitors were the strong Asian influences, not only in sculptures but rich opulent furnishings in reproduction Tibetan and Chinese styles and animal skins in animal hide rugs and upholstery. A less obvious trend were small clusters of very patriotic British merchandising with Union Jack embellished fabrics and furniture. Lots of stands like Coach House, displaying a multitude of lamps rugs and 1930′s travellers trunks style storage and the quintessential Storm Lamps. Opulent bespoke linens from Charlotte Thomas were amongst the indulgent, and high end luxury, for my purse string anyway.

Being who I am, however, more drawn to the unusual, and for me, more interesting stands, not just by name alone (The House of Ugly Fish with their fused glass art, being one to mention) but the usually less ornate, simple stands, smaller companies concentrating on one particular product/theme, more niche trend setters, than followers.

The corner stand for Dreamweavers caught my eye with their bright coloured sensual, inspirational rag and padded effect rugs and matching themed cushions, were drawing a large crowd on the Sunday I visited. With such a tactile product that people were encouraged to touch, an excitement of the senses when you have been under the glare of the Exhibitions lights for a few hours.

'The Executive' Cushion from Dreamweaver

Dreamweavers promote, and have done for many years, the “reduce,reuse , ..up-cycle?” ethos. The phrase up-cycle is the perfect up-sale from the everyday recycle. But this has now become a clear market necessity, a trend in its own right. I am always being asked by clients to push for more environmentally friendly materials, products and manufacturing processes. So to find a company embracing these more responsible ideals, with a soft furnishing product which looks and feels very high-end, was a breath of fresh air.

The highlight for me and by far my favourite, was the inspirational stand for Flexible love. Maybe not inspirationally noted for it’s minimalistic back drop , but for its no frills approach and simple demonstration of their purely innovative product, which was grabbing everybody’s attention. The ‘accordion-like’, honeycomb-structured furniture created by Taiwanese designer Chishen Chiu, can hold up to as many as 16 people when fully extended to its 7 metre capacity, and reduced down to a mere 20cm for storage.

Flexible love furniture uses recycled materials and pre-existing manufacturing processes to reduce its environmental impact while pushing the materials to their limits in the most unique way. I did however go to pick it up when fully compact, as the demonstration was being shown with such ease and grace, do not be fooled, it may be honeycomb-structured, but the largest 16 person model weighs in at just under 24 Kg (55 pounds). I do suggest if anyone is thinking of purchasing one for personal use, seriously consider the smaller 8 person model at 12kg in weight, as moving it around would be a serious work out.

Flexible love Seating

Interiors Exhibitions is not all about ‘the sale’ though and although I did not have time to take in any of the free seminars, I did take some time out to check out the New design Britain finalists. Yu-Hun Kim’s ‘EWE’ Characterised stool using layered hard and soft Felt and Phil Crook’s multi-functional dining station, were my two top favourites, clearly indulging the versatility and sculptural pleasures that furniture can bring.

'EWE' Stool designed by Yu-Hun Kim

Multi-functional Dining Station Designed by Phil Cook

On a personal indulgence, I did, however find some lovely oil canvases to expand my very new art collection for the house (the house we have lived in for 3 years, and after plastering all the walls, most walls are still bare) The first will go in a the final bedroom to be decorated and the City Skyline I have ear-marked for the living room, although both still require framing. If any one has any contacts for Manchester art framers I would be grateful.

Abstract Oil Canvas

City Skyline