When we were initially brought to site on the ‘Liverpool One’ project we thought someone had transported us to a post-apocalyptic film set. There were no buildings to be seen for the massive groundworks in preparation for the huge scale of this city-wide development. Rounding a corner, one building remained; and that was where we were to work.

After a long process of working with the Liverpool One main contractor to make the building sound and tie it to the new shopping centre, we went to work on the concept and treatment. We wanted to keep the character of the building whilst creating a familiar, comfortable environment away from the glossy, new city out the front door. The idea that prevailed was that of a house; simple in retrospect, but creating a home concept from the concrete reinforced shell proved a challenge. The rooms were designated bedroom, dining room, dressing room etc. and the work started.

We are proud of the stair. A new technique was forged through prototyping sheet steel cut with a laser which eventually became the organic form you see in the pictures. Every panel was individually drawn and cut to fit the site and what prevailed is a delicate assembly that provides a beautiful and structurally sound ribbon flowing up the building.

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In addition to the House of Fraser concessions, we also designed the Jigsaw concession for Bentalls in Kingston-upon-Thames.

It is always a challenge to create a space that represents a client’s identity in a space with such tight constraints. In a concession environment the rules normally forbid certain elements, such as ceiling treatments and floors, that make up the brand formula in a typical shop. Situations such as this require a careful look at the positioning of all the elements in the design to balance the needs of a working store with the aesthetic requirements required to uphold the brand identity. Along with this is the ever-present challenge to fulfil stock requirements, whilst ensuring circulation and through views.

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Kew is a rapidly expanding chain of affordable womenswear shops that, in the words of its owners, sells “comfortable clothes that are fashionable without being imitations of catwalk trends”. In 2005, AMD was asked to create a new concept for nationwide stores as well as a new visual identity for the Kew brand, and to do so on a tight budget.

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Jigsaw has a history of opening shops in buildings with a distinctive sense of place, as well as for working with respected architects including Nigel Coates and John Pawson. AMD’s own relationship with Jigsaw began in 1999 when we designed the company’s new store on Westbourne Grove in Notting Hill, West London. Since then, we have worked with Jigsaw on a number of successful new shops, including a flagship store in Chelsea, which is – at 6,000 square feet – the biggest of Jigsaw’s London shops. The store opened in 2004 and occupies a Grade II* listed building – a chapel built in 1905 that was stripped of its original interior during its use by the Ministry of Defence.

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This is one of Jigsaw’s smaller shops, sitting within the village of St John’s Wood. The design is clean and sleek, with a subtle palette of polished oak, suede and polished steel; anything fussy would overwhelm the space. A sliding panel behind the cashdesk makes clever use of the restricted space allowing additional storage. The hanging rails are a custom system, designed and developed by AMD with cast aluminium fittings and glass shelves. The look and feel suits the “Village” atmosphere and competes with other luxury fashion retailers in the area.

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This shop is a hidden jewel amongst small restaurants, delicatessens and independent retailers in the heart of the city.

The existing traditional shop front has been restored and gives the store its unique boutique feel. Inside the shop, the subtle, Japanese-influenced fixtures use very honest, modern materials. The flooring is rough-sawn timber from eucalyptus trees, shelving is reclaimed mahogany and the structural columns are exposed concrete. The clothing is displayed on subtly detailed, custom-made brushed steel rails supporting glass shelves. The specially commissioned light fittings are hand-blown glass, designed by Anthony Stern.

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This is a large shop, 11,000 square feet over three levels. It includes Jigsaw Womenswear, Junior, Accessories and Kitchen. Jigsaw Kitchen was the first of their new cafés and featured in the TV series Cold Feet. We were responsible for all aspects of the design and are particularly proud of this shop.

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This was the first Jigsaw store designed by AMD. The shop interior strongly responds to its locality, reflecting this laid-back fashionable, understated and elegant area. It was the first of many Jigsaw shops to respond to each individual building style and location. This consciously challenges the uniformity of other high street fashion retailers.

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