The Cass Art flagship store.

Cass Art is a London–based chain of art supply stores whose flagship is located within a renovated 1930s warehouse in Islington, East London. The store's interior architecture, furnishings and integrated environmental graphics all work together to create a unified aesthetic as well as a highly functional retail environment.

Internally, the design respects the integrity of the building, with its wide vistas, high ceilings, large windows and striking pitched roof with exposed steel trusses. In sympathy with the building's industrial aesthetic, the furniture and fittings have been designed with a palette of galvanised steel for framing and shelving units and Douglas Fir—a warm and distinctly patterned softwood traditionally used for workshop furniture—for a series of large workbench style display tables. Sight lines across the expanse of each floor were retained, allowing customers to navigate and locate what they are looking for with ease, while all shelving units and display tables have been mounted on castors enabling the owner to reconfigure the space as desired.

Store graphics integrated with the interior design.

Galvanized steel shelving units designed to complement the building’s industrial aesthetic.

The existing entry to the building was reconfigured to improve accessibility and increase the visibility of the store from adjacent Essex Road. A cantilevered concrete stair with glazed balustrade invites customers from pavement level up to a fully glazed sliding entry door and screen that has been positioned centrally within the building facade. The existing concrete floors and exposed brickwork of the building were retained, and an open stairwell was inserted to connect the three levels. Constructed from galvanised steel with white concrete tread inserts and a Douglas Fir handrail, the stair reinforces the use of materials used throughout the project.

New stairwell designed to better intergrate the building’s three floors.