| | Retail Week reports that Debenhams is to dramatically revamp the exterior of its flagship on London’s Oxford Street for the first time in the shop’s 41-year history.
The 200,000 sq ft store will be revitalised using an "innovative" over-cladding system that aims to create a ‘Kinetic Façade’, which will move in response to the wind.
Debenhams said it is a first for the UK, and that the "captivating interactive façade" is in keeping with the site’s prominent location on one of the world’s busiest shopping streets.
Debenhams will also remove the existing canopy to increase the height of the shopfront glazing, to improve the shopping experience and enhance the store’s "sense of arrival".
Works are underway with completion scheduled for November this year. The store will continue trading throughout the works.
Debenhams will also relocate its headquarters to British Land’s 174,500 sq ft 10 Brock Street scheme at Regent’s Place in summer 2013, which will allow a "significant proportion" of the fifth floor of the Oxford Street store to be converted to trading space further expanding the customer offer. |