Squire & Partners built on their long-standing relationship with Brixton-based design duo Mark Eley and Wakako Kishimoto, by collaborating on pattern designs for their new practice headquarters, The Department Store.

The dilapidated former Edwardian department store was stripped back to its raw state to reveal a decayed grandeur that the practice sought to reveal and highlight, whilst adding contemporary interventions in create an inspiring modern workspace

On their first visit to The Department Store, Eley Kishimoto were inspired by remnants of the original building’s craftsmanship and ornamentation and understood our desire for new elements to reflect the existing building fabric.

Initially producing 25 patterns for review, Mark and Wakoko collaborated with Squire & Partners to refine pattern forms and colourways, working collaboratively with us to produce a final series of eight bespoke patterns which our interior design team could apply to various elements, including inlaid printed floor tiles, floor thresholds, feature flooring, bespoke tiles, rugs, textiles and more.

'Mushroom Bunch' and 'Loopy Mushroom' are both derived from the metal balustrade found on the building's original staircase. The patterns can be found throughout the building, including floor thresholds in printed plywood, on high stools in the Modelshop, and on laser cut steel beer trays in the Upstairs bar and restaurant.

The pattern for the 'As you Like It' tiles, found on the floors of the lift cars and on printed ply flooring in the WCs, has been inspired by the original steel-framed window patterns found on the rear of the building.

'Wired Clematis’ references an existing glazed rooflight on the third floor, removed to make way for a new rooftop level, and can be found on bespoke handmade rugs by Laguna Rugs, and across floor thresholds on printed ply.

Inspired by the grand mahogany stair that was revealed when an existing lift shaft was removed, 'Heavenly Stairway' references original elements such as the green patterned tiles, and is used on bespoke tiles by Bert & May, as well as printed onto plywood flooring elsewhere in the building.

Using an abstracted and silhouetted form of the building itself, 'The Department Store' pattern is used on ceramic floor tiles, printed ply flooring and as a fabric lining on a bespoke leather bag created by Squire & Partners in collaboration with Studio Candice Lau.

The 'Roof Tile Reptile' pattern was derived from the green tiled roofs of the original Bon Marche building, of which the Department Store was originally an annexe, as well as tiles used on our own copper-topped roof lanterns. The pattern was used on another bespoke hand-made rug by Laguna Rugs.

Inspired by a beautifully crafted original window within the building which can be viewed from the main reception, 'Energy Bloom' was created in a number of colourways and can be found on coasters, fabrics and printed plywood floors.

The patterns created during our collaboration have been so successful that have been further developed and used to create a series of products that can be purchased by members of the public, such as stationery, scarves and bags.

https://thedepartmentstore.com/shop/