HMKM presents concepts for Harvey Nichols revamp

Hosker Moore Kent Melia will present first concepts for the multi-million pound redevelopment of two departments in Harvey Nichols’ Knightsbridge store in early April.

Patrick Hanly, commercial director at Harvey Nichols, says the redevelopment is a key part of the company’s expansion plans but is costing less than £10m. He refuses to reveal the design fee.

Work is due to begin in June on the revamp of the menswear and swimwear departments.

The 743m2 menswear department will be redesigned to rationalise and optimise customer circulation, through a reconfiguration of the Sloane Street staircase to create a new entrance. Work is expected to be completed by early next year.

A mix of glass and textured materials will be used and the emphasis of the redesign is on communicating a feel of quality.

The 279m2 swimwear department is set to relaunch in late summer as a signature department reflecting the mix of ‘on trend’ and luxury product sold within Harvey Nichols.

Harvey Nichols also plans to launch stores in Edinburgh in August and in Manchester in 2003.

Hanly says, ‘We want to make sure that London isn’t left behind and that the Knightsbridge store continues to be the jewel in the crown.

‘We’re committed to make shopping more exciting and want to bring an element of pleasure to the shopping environment.’

The Harvey Nichols revamp follows a spate of redevelopment in the department store sector, including the £93m Selfridges, £131m John Lewis and, most recently, £9m Liberty facelift, as exclusively reported in Design Week (DW 28 February).

Hanly says, ‘The sector needs to keep investing to make shopping in-store more entertaining.’

Harvey Nichols posted flat interim pre-tax profits of £6.9m in November last year following a dramatic drop in business after the terrorist attacks of 11 September.

Hosker Moore Kent Melia was also responsible for designing Harvey Nichols’ Leeds and Riyadh stores.

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