Back in 1898, Harrods debuted England’s first ever escalator: a woven leather unit that operated like a conveyor belt, where nervous customers were offered brandy at the top to help them recover from their ordeal.
Escalators have come on a long way since then – in particular Escalator 3 at the very same Knightsbridge store. It’s the centrepiece of an extensive retrofit that includes 16 new escalators over eight floors, with a striking design that incorporates fluted bronze cladding.
It was important to enhance the unique sense of place and drama of the space, so we opted for dramatic illumination with high-quality LED lighting – carefully selected to ensure the area felt soft and warm rather than stark. We housed the lights inside feature ceiling coffers so that they blended seamlessly with their surroundings.
The architectural lighting design scheme is complemented by a stunning bespoke Chihuly chandelier on the ground floor, which creates a dramatic sense of arrival.
Photography: © Make Architects
— Daniel Blaker
