Rundell Associates gives Harrods’ fine watch room a majestic marble makeover

In April, Harrods unveiled Martin Brudnizki Design Studio’s refurbishment of its wine rooms, and last month, it opened the doors of its colour-coded toy department revamped by Farshid Moussavi. Now, as its interior design overhaul progresses, the London department store has unveiled its new fine watch rooms; a 1,667sq m space comprising ten boutiques, VIP suites and an aftercare department. This significant space has been masterminded by London-based Rundell Associates.
‘Each department of Harrods has a very strong character, so it was crucial to create a special atmosphere in the new fine watch rooms, to set it apart from the other glorious spaces,’ says Mike Rundell, principal of the architect and design practice. When designing the rooms, he delved into Harrods’ architectural archive, noting that the fine watch floor once housed the footings of the department store’s never-completed tower – a design which also included a light well.
An ovular domed lighting feature, with markings evoking the hours and minutes of a clock, nods to this secret history. It is also placed above the most magnificent element of the space, a staircase with a back wall constructed from a single block of rare Cipollino Tirrenia marble, its homogenous veins creating a pattern akin to a ‘very grand wallpaper’.
‘We wanted to create a spatial experience where customers could delight in the look and feel of the materials,’ says Rundell. As well as the sinuous marble detailing, the space nods to luxury materials used in horology design. The ground floor’s mother-of-pearl-flecked terrazzo is inlaid with bronze strips, while the handrails of the staircase balustrades are finished in leather, evoking watch-strap skins.
The leather was selected from Spanish tanneries. ‘We wanted a pale leather, so it was important it should not mark when touched,’ says Rundell. ‘Nor should it have too much sheen’. He looked to London leather specialist Bill Amberg Studio for the final stitching and embossing.
The result is a conscious, appropriate space designed to reflect the rare world of fine watches and up-to-the minute, meticulous design.
A domed lighting feature sits above the central staircase, which mimics archive lightwell signatures
Left, pale leather-lined walls throughout the space were crafted by leather experts Bill Amberg Studio. Right, fine bronze detailing marks the staircase
The expanded Fine Watches department now occupies two floors adjoining the Fine Jewellery Room
The balustrades of the staircase are formed from patinated bronze
INFORMATION
For more information, visit the Harrods website; Rundell Associates website
ADDRESS
87-135 Brompton Road
Knightsbridge
London
SW1X 7XL
-
Tomás Saraceno’s spider-led show at Serpentine has legs, and lots of them
‘Web(s) of Life’, the first major UK show by Tomás Saraceno, is a living, collaborative and multi-species call to climate action involving everything from dog-friendly sculptures to ‘spider diviners’ – but no phones allowed
By Harriet Lloyd-Smith • Published
-
Bottega Veneta celebrates Brazilian culture in São Paulo’s landmark modernist building, Casa de Vidro
Italian fashion house Bottega Veneta reveals the latest chapter of its ‘The Square’ project, a travelling cultural series that seeks to provide a dialogue with countries around the world
By Jack Moss • Published
-
Make-up artist Ana Takahashi on creating some of the most innovative looks of the moment
Ana Takahashi, the London-based make-up artist working with KNWLS, Chopova Lowena, and Caroline Polachek, on the process behind her extraordinary creations
By Mary Cleary • Published
-
Hair jewellery to covet and collect
Today’s hair jewellery is both practical and pretty. We're pinning our hopes on these simple and elegant accessories
By Hannah Silver • Published
-
Cherry picking: Grand Seiko’s new watch marks the beginning of spring
We’ve taken a shine to a pretty-in-pink Grand Seiko timepiece
By Hannah Silver • Published
-
Watches and Wonders 2023: the highlights
Discover the best watches from Watches and Wonders 2023
By Hannah Silver • Last updated
-
Watches and Wonders behind the scenes: building the world’s biggest watch fair
Discover how Watches and Wonders 2023, the year’s biggest horological event, is designed and built
By Hannah Silver • Published
-
‘Crown to Couture’: Kensington Palace unveils its largest ever exhibition
‘Crown to Couture’ at Kensington Palace, London, promises a dazzling delve into royal-court and red-carpet jewellery and dressing (5 April – 29 October 2023). Its curators tell us more
By Hannah Silver • Published
-
Irene Neuwirth and Studio Shamshiri bring magical realism to New York
Fall down the whimsical rabbit hole of Irene Neuwirth’s new jewellery boutique on Madison Avenue
By Hannah Silver • Published
-
Jewelled objects reveal the links between the great jewellery houses and interior designers
Precious metals and stones are not just for the body. Here, we reveal a story of parallel passions between two disciplines that results in jewelled objects for the home
By Creative direction: Caragh McKay and Nick Vinson • Published
-
We’re pinning our hopes on Chanel’s new watch
The Chanel Mademoiselle Privé Pique-Aiguilles watch draws on the couture traditions of the house for its oversized design
By Hannah Silver • Published