Burlington Arcade

The Project

Designed by Samuel Ware and built in 1819, the Burlington Arcade is a slice of ornate Regency architecture in the heart of London. In order to keep it at the forefront of West End shopping, the Arcade's owners wished to raise its cultural profile. As part of this vision, they commissioned Jamie Fobert Architects to design a new floor. Built in 2015 entirely from British stone, the new floor is historically-referenced yet truly contemporary.

The geometry, tonal variation and craftsmanship of the floor responds sympathetically to the existing historic architecture, with its 17 pairs of elegant bay windows and decorative arches.

The palette of contrasting stones was sourced from four British quarries, echoing the Burlington Arcade’s Regency character and its rich historical associations.

Previously, there was stepped access only, but this has been replaced by gently sloping, DDA-compliant ramps and steps at both the Piccadilly and Burlington Gardens entrances. Now, the Arcade is accessible for everyone.

Photography ©Jamie McGregor Smith

Development

The form and geometry of the arcade itself was the first point of reference in developing the new floor pattern. We also examined the long and varied history of intricate floor design in Britain, in particular, Regency floors from the early nineteenth century – when The Burlington Arcade was constructed – as well as earlier floor patterns such as The Queen’s House by Inigo Jones. We examined the key principles of harmony, proportion and scale as well as considering material aspects and tonal variations within each pattern.

Having tested numerous stone types and finishes, we proposed sourcing floor materials entirely from British quarries.

We selected four stone types of contrasting hues - Moorcroft, Ashburton, Mendip and Burlington Slate. In a pleasing concurrence, the Burlington Quarry began life as a company in 1843 under the ownership of William Cavendish, Second Earl of Burlington; William was a relation of George Cavendish who built The Burlington Arcade in 1819.

Press

Wallpaper* – Ali Morris : “Jamie Fobert Architects breathe new life into the Burlington Arcade with a new, old-fashioned, floor”.

On Site

Collaborators

Stone Contractor: Tudor Stonework (UK) in collaboration with Margraf (Italy)
Stone Supplier: Britannicus Stone
Principle Contractor: Polyteck Building Services