StMartin’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! Littlemore than an enclosed courtyard with a couple of streets, StMartin’s Courtyard is lined with ever so smart boutique style stores. A striking exterior encompasses a bronzedmetal facade with brick surround and uninterrupted views into the shop through vast glass panels. This frontage is around an impressive eightmetres in height. The new development brings further retail diversification to an already eclecticmix 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 gemof 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 fromthe University, Gillian hasmade 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. Froma one day course for would-be florists to the Classic 30 week professional programme, Gillian’s aimis to teach flower design as an art form. On the day I visited the teamwere busy preparing for a royal visit fromthe 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 bloomout of place, the flower displays frame the
14 sdea directory of shopfittings and display
www.shopdisplay.org
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