Universal Works’ store at Coal Drops Yard is the second in the Universal Works and Studio MUTT creative relationship, following the Soho store at 26 Berwick Street

Studio MUTT were appointed by Universal Works in late 2017 to act as architect and creative partner for their future stores.

The architecture aims to retain and exaggerate the character of the Coal Drops Yard existing building The project consists of a series of large sculptural insertions. A bold and honest material approach was chosen to compliment the original interior.

Revitalised by Argent and Heatherwick Studio, the two Victorian coal drops sheds were used to receive coal from South Yorkshire and trans-ship it to narrowboats on the Regents Canal and to horse-drawn carts.

The stand-out feature of the store is the 4-metre-tall mirrored wall, set at 45 degrees, that both separates the front- and back-of-house. This is animated through three pivot doors, the main one being on a central pivot and able to rotate through 360 degrees

This gesture adds a creative illusion of volume and depth to the space.

This feature creates a sense of theatre to the banality of back-of-house storage.

The reverse side of the wall is lined in green-stained oak which also continues to envelope the changing rooms and adds warmth and texture to these intimate areas.

MUTT used this vibrant green in the two Universal Works’ stores, reminiscent of the mills and factories, that is a strong influence on the brand’s collections.

Lighting from bespoke linear fittings is uniform and bright and offers an alternative to the warm spotlights often used in retail.

The system was designed in collaboration with London-based designer Inessa Demidova.

The fittings sit between Victorian cast iron beams and exaggerate the grid of the building. Merchandise is displayed on green powder-coated Unistrut hanging and shelving modules under the beams.

Loose items are displayed on large red cedar blocks, which come together to create sculptural forms  for displaying folded garments.

Fabricated by Gareth Neal, a London-based design studio.

They act as monumental moth-repellent blocks.