# 9 FORTNUM & MASON

PICADILLY, LONDON, UK

Fortnum and Mason could possibly be the most frightfully British department store on earth. It is the birthplace of the Scotch Egg and was the shop that Henry J Heinz chose to sell his first tins of baked beans.

Over the years it has evolved with the times. From its humble beginnings when it first opened its neo-Georgian doors in the 1920s, to its most recent renovation in 2007, the store has never shied away from keeping up with the Joneses whilst remaining true to its traditional heritage.

Its most recent renovation was the work of Jestico + Whiles Architects. The practice faced a daunting task of giving the store a modern ‘facelift,’ whilst maintaining the essence of the original building. They did this by working alongside a number of contemporary designers. David Collins Studio was enlisted for the five restaurants within the store, KKD was responsible for the food areas and HMKM for the non-food areas.

Jestico + Whiles inserted a new atrium to the building to unite all the floors within the department store. A classic spiral staircase gives a nod to the store’s Georgian heritage, while the polished finish places the building firmly in the 21^st century. A domed skylight floods light into the heart of the store.

Contemporary insertions teamed with historical restoration has successfully given this old-fashioned department store a modern twist whilst maintaining its signature old-fashioned grandeur.

From the outside, the department store resembles the same building it was when Mr. Fortnum and Mr. Mason opened it in the twentieth century. However, step inside and you will see that this department store is determined not to remain stuck in the past.