British Eyewear Brand’s Nostalgic Leeds Store by Child Studio.

London-based design practice Child Studio has completed another store for the British spectacle makers Cubitts. Located within an ornate Victorian shopping arcade in Leeds, the interiors evoke nostalgia while paying homage to the design heritage of the North of England.

The studio aspired to celebrate the unique heritage of the building while introducing a contemporary interpretation of the arcade’s architectural language.

Wrapped in a series of dramatic 3-metre tall display cabinets, the interior echoes the geometry of the original shopfront. The chocolate brown gloss lacquer finish contrasts with the off-white textured wallpaper that lines the illuminated display shelves.

The custom-made cash desk was designed to resemble a writing desk, referencing the classic pieces by the celebrated furniture designer Robin Day. The reflective black glass tabletop is supported by the stainless steel base and the cherry wood storage cabinet.

Related: Cubitts Soho Eyewear Store by Child Studio.

The space features a striking geometric floor pattern inspired by the arcade’s original architectural faience detailing produced by the local Burmantofts Pottery Company.

“New interiors within historic structures often fall into a pastiche or offer a sterile minimalist look that doesn’t attempt to engage with the context. We wanted to take a more subtle approach and to build a layered narrative that would acknowledge different chapters in the building’s history,” commented Child Studio founders Alexy Kos and Che Huang.

Clay tiles in various shades of terracotta, sand and anthracite tones nod to the materiality and colour palette of the arcade’s architectural features. Sparsely filled, each carefully chosen antique is given its due from the “Monk” leather chair by Tobia Scarpa, the “Jumo” table lamp designed by Eileen Gray to the quintessentially British bakelite clock produced in the 1930s by Genalex, they feel natural within the space – avoiding the dreaded pastiche.

Balancing heritage and modernity, this nostalgic interior delivers an intimate and informal destination within its historic neighbourhood.

See More Eyewear Interiors & Concepts on Yellowtrace.

[Images courtesy of Child Studio. Photography by Felix Speller & Child Studio.]