The front of the Paul Smith Mayfair store.

It was no mean feat to successfully deliver Paul Smith's requests for an eclectic new Albemarle Street shop in Mayfair, London. The architects over at 6a were given the task to abstract Paul Smith’s hand drawings, and have created a repetitive relief pattern of iron cast interlocking circles set against distinctive black walls. This builds on a familiar material tradition in London, where cast iron has been used for railings, gratings, balconies and lampposts.

Seen obliquely, the iron circles give a suggestion of woven fabric. Curved glass cabinets protrude through the ironwork to display items of furniture. Three small drawings by Paul Smith have been cast directly into sections across the facade, introducing a humorous personal touch. This design offers a rare change from the ordinary high street shops, setting a sharp contrast to the other Georgian buildings in its surroundings.