Commercial Architecture and Engineering
Building Design Northern have been the building consultants for the beauty and skincare brand, The Body Shop, since 2007. We provide Architectural, Structural Engineering and Project Management services to their stores throughout the United Kingdom, designing and managing store refurbishments and fit-outs.
In 2019, The Body Shop embarked on a global refit roll out, with the UK leading the way, opening the first “Workshop” store. The Workshop concept is based on artisan workshops: the ceramicist, printmaker, and herbalist, designed with sustainability in mind. Materials utilised are a mixture of raw and real, representing the true spirit of a working space. The stores use recycled, upcycled and reclaimed materials.
Central to the design is a sink, which creates an area for customers to play and engage with the products. The stores also include a refill unit where customers can refill a variety of products.
Building Design Northern first assisted The Body Shop’s new store concept in 2020, working on the hybrid style store re-fit at Edinburgh Airport. In 2021, BDN Architects and Engineers worked on a first time fit out in the new Edinburgh, St James’ Quarter shopping centre, marking the first full workshop store BDN provided services for.
The first workshop style store refit of 2022 was completed in the historical City of Bath, within a grade II listed building. The complex project was completed with local artisan gold leaf signage letters and logo.
We recently completed a refit for the Dublin store on Grafton Street, marking the first store in Ireland to have a workshop refit. Historically a hotel, the building is now sub divided into units, and classed as ‘Special Interest’, making the refit challenging due to its old quirky design. Subsequently, lots of thought went into creating an appropriate and fitting design and colour scheme.
Images display a selection of stores we have collaborated with The Body Shop on, including Edinburgh Airport, Liverpool One, Aberdeen, Bath City Centre, Grafton Street, Dublin, and Edinburgh Princes Street.