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St Martin’s Courtyard, London


As if London, didn’t already have enough shopping centres and developments? Here in the Capital, another small yet prestigious shopping area has just arrived! Little more than an enclosed courtyard with a couple of streets, St Martin’s Courtyard is lined with ever so smart boutique style stores. A striking exterior encompasses a bronzed metal facade with brick surround and uninterrupted views into the shop through vast glass panels. This frontage is around an impressive eight metres in height. The new development brings further retail diversification to an already eclectic mix in Covent Garden. With some of the top names in retail plus restaurants and a delightful, open air landscaped courtyard providing al fresco dining. It should easily become a ‘must do’ shopping arena.


Floral fantasy at Flower Academy


Lying right at the heart of London’s latest, swanky boutique shopping area is a real gem of a store and yet another niche retail discipline for sdea to cover. The Covent Garden Academy of Flowers has sited itself perfectly within this vibrant and historic floral setting, which was brought to life for the nation by Audrey Hepburn in the classic British film, ‘My Fair Lady’. Covent Garden has always been synonymous with flowers and now this new floral design school with an immaculately designed shop at its entrance brings flowers back to their traditional London home.


Academy Principal, Gillian Wheeler has also long been associated with flowers, art and design. She previously headed up art based, flower design courses at the University of Arts, London for 15 years, before finally fulfilling her life-long ambition. Along with her daughter, Fleur and team from the University, Gillian has made her dreams into reality by setting up this fabulous new venture. Not only has she opened a fantastic flower shop, which is a shopping destination in its own right and own brand complimentary giftware for the discerning customer, but below, she operates a highly successful floral design school. From a one day course for would-be florists to the Classic 30 week professional programme, Gillian’s aim is to teach flower design as an art form. On the day I visited the team were busy preparing for a royal visit from the Duchess of Cornwall, who was attending one of their courses the following day.


Whilst small, the Academy of Flowers’ presence and style is large with a very French air. Outside, as you would expect, the pavement display is breathtaking. A full size bicycle displays the shop’s credentials and sits amidst galvanised containers brimming with flowers, baskets full of potted bulbs and painted, wooden display stands covered with herbs. All beautifully presented with not a single bloom out of place, the flower displays frame the


14 sdea directory of shopfittings and display


www.shopdisplay.org


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