Habitat Westfield Opening
We were delighted to drop in to the opening of the first standalone store in 10 years at the Westfield Shopping Centre, London. The largest shopping centre in Europe. I had the pleasure to work for Habitat a few years ago. It was a wonderful experience and I feel totally back in love with the brand I’d grown up around. The new Westfield Store doesn’t disappoint. Its been designed as a calm, inspiring environment where customers can browse products at their leisure, visuals have been stripped back so that the products are the key focus, and that has defiantly been achieved. Gone are the digital screens that bombard you with images, back in place is all about the product and it really does feel a more relaxed way to shop.
As you approach the store you are greeted by an industrial framework with three Instagram-style square window displays allowing you to view through to the store. The checker board floor welcomes you in with and an adaptable space for design collaborations and customer workshops that will take place in store each month.
Shrimps is the focus this month with its pink and red colour way, doodles and playful prints with a flash of faux fur. You were drawn further into the store where the floor became neutral once again the products became the feature. The layout was easy to get around and the products true to the habitat history, bright, fun and functional.
Velvet sofas in the most warm and glamorous shade of teal, and of course tableware, habitat truly has some beautiful crockery and we are crazy in love with Otto. Textiles also had our hearts in a flutter, from the fun coloured rugs to the seriously luxurious linen bedding, gulp, yes we did make purchases.Â
I can honestly say that Terrance Conran will be please to see his baby return to the high street with a true feel of it’s origins. Its had its ups and downs like lots of retail outfits, but its back on track and has kept that contemporary european vibe to it originating back to when that first store opened in 1964.
Pic by The Sunday Times
And yes, I did spot the famous chicken brick. Massive congratulations to all the Habitat team on new beginnings and I cant wait for the Brighton store to open. Now lets bring back those catalogues; who remembers the controversial 73 cover with the scantily clad couple lounging in bed with nothing but a Hadji duvet to cover their birthday suits. Yep, that was Habitat. Oh happy days. And happy high street shopping everyone. Long live the high street!
