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Watches of Switzerland Returns to East London
Located at 100 Liverpool Street and spanning 530 m² across two floors, Portview was appointed by Watches of Switzerland to deliver an exciting new retail and leisure destination that promises to go beyond brick-and-mortar.
“a new benchmark in retail design.”
Speaking about the fit-out of the space, Managing Director of Portview, Simon Campbell said:
“Watches of Switzerland is renowned for delivering unrivalled client experiences and championing quality design and craftmanship. We too are committed to the same cause and enjoyed working closely with the Watches of Switzerland team to deliver a space that will delight shoppers, inspire creativity and set a new benchmark in retail design.
“Timing, quality and organisation were key to the success of this project.”
“Timing, quality and organisation were key to the success of this project. The combination of a tight programme, turbulent trading conditions within the retail sector, and the ever-changing covid regulations; called for robust project management, forward thinking and decisive action to ensure the flagship was delivered safely on time, on budget and to the highest standard.
“I’m proud to say that our team utilised their skills and knowledge to bring a range of innovative solutions to the table and carry them through to completion so Watches of Switzerland could start trading in the beautiful surroundings of its new home in East London as scheduled.”
The two-storey showroom is located in a rounded extension of an all-glass office building, where Portview worked with the existing fabric and structure to help flood the space with natural light to create a lofty, spacious feel to the interior.
One of the key standout features inside the new showroom is a curved signature staircase, which required Portview to devise and execute a series of fitout solutions to overcome various structural challenges.
The first obstacle was to install the staircase and the low, iron laminated curved glass balustrade within the first four weeks of a twenty-week programme. To meet the tight deadline and access constraints imposed by site conditions, Portview constructed the curved balustrade using six glass panels – instead of three large ones – to fix a more seamless and secure fit around the staircase in just two nights prior to the main staircase structure being installed at a later date in the programme.
Making every millimetre count, the precise coordination of the complex steelwork and bulkheads, were critical to meet the client’s design vision. This included developing the design and detailing for the installation of zero-tolerance vertical slats, which curve neatly around the staircase wall and provide a backdrop for custom-made joinery and display cases.
Other features in the showroom include a luxurious private lounge, hospitality area and a cocktail bar which offers Cartier-branded champagne. Private consultations, product launches and events can also be hosted and held in this impressive showroom.
“uncompromised quality - time and time again”
Simon Campbell concluded:
“The new Broadgate flagship is another fine example of our ability to create great spaces for clients and deliver on our promise of uncompromised quality – time and time again.”
Despite covid-19 restrictions, the Portview team maintained an open site by introducing stringent covid-compliant site safety measures to deliver a high level of service for clients whilst protecting the health and safety of its people, contractors, and the community.