As a studio, it’s always a privilege to build lasting relationships with fellow creatives. To be able to count the iconic Rock’n’Roll jeweller Stephen Webster MBE among them is a true honour. Hollaway previously collaborated with Webster on the design of his Mount Street store, so when Stephen approached us to create his new flagship retail space at Burlington Arcade, it felt like the natural continuation of a 15-years long relationship built on a shared respect for craftsmanship and vision.
“I know what sort of functionality I need from a space; after that, it’s over to Guy,” says Stephen. “I trust him as one creative to another.”
The space needed to reflect the daring and uncompromising nonconformity of the Stephen Webster brand whilst simultaneously honouring the history and heritage of the world’s oldest shopping arcade.
The brief specifically called for a completely unique window display façade that offered an alternative to the traditional jewellery displays that greet you when you walk down Burlington Arcade. Hollaway Studio brought architectural expertise and knowledge of contract administration to realise this interiors-led design.
Lead Interior Designer Helena Martin immersed herself in the visual language of the Webster world, seeking to create a space that was reflective of his distinct world. She connected immediately with the kaleidoscopic nature of The Crystal Haze, the trademark technique used by Stephen Webster, a process by which layers of quartz are cut to reflect hundreds of panels of light to create an effect of movement.
Hollaway teamed up with Form and Matter to create the hero piece of the design: the display window façade which is comprised of three custom-made kaleidoscopic display cases. From a distance, these installations resemble a cut diamond, capturing the attention of passersby with a dynamic visual experience that sets it apart from a traditional Burlington Arcade shopfront. At closer range, the kinetic displays echo the technique’s hypnotic quality, harnessing light reflections to give the impression of repeated images of the ring at the centre of the kaleidoscope.
Stephen’s subterranean speakeasy, the No Regrets Lounge, was not intended to be merely a commercial space, but a space to hold cocktail parties, private parties and VIP events – a place, in other words, where business and pleasure can exist side-by-side. Fitting, then, that the retail space before had been none other than a pop-up James Bond shop. The space offers a more intimate atmosphere than the light-filled upper retail space, so we opted for dimmer lighting, oxblood walls, velvet furnishings and a mirrored ceiling.
Proving that sustainable design and a luxury need never be at odds with one another, Helena retained and adapted the existing structural frameworks of the 007 shop of the original 007 shop while reupholstering furniture and fixtures from the previous Mount Street flagship shop.
Circular design and adaptive reuse were central to Stephen’s brief: the brand was one of the first in the world to receive a Fairtrade Gold license and utilises fully traceable, 100% recycled gold and silver across his jewellery collections, as well as Kimberley-certified, conflict-free diamonds.
The name of the No Regrets lounge itself, Stephen says, refers to “the sustainable side of our business … so we that we don’t have regrets about what we make.”
Upstairs, Stephen’s personal office and a space for private and bridal appointments. Stephen has a knack for connecting immediately and intuitively with his clients – among whom he can count Ozzy Osbourne, John Cooper Clarke, Stevie Nicks and Madonna, to name a few. It was of paramount importance, therefore, that this was a place that was to be utterly and unapologetically personal; to that end, Helena designed a built-in cabinet of curiosities to be filled with the souvenirs and treasures from the life of a true magpie.
Three levels carefully designed to reflect the many facets of Stephen Webster – both in terms of the brand and the man himself. “It’s my inner sanctum,” Stephen told Forbes magazine. “A place where the background stories to our collections can be told, and consultations for our important bespoke services can be held, all in a space that has been curated specifically to feel like our home.”
