The Portico shop at the National Gallery has re-opened following a three-month refurbishment with an entirely new design by Lumsden,
The National Gallery, located in London’s Trafalgar Square, houses the nation’s collection of paintings in the Western European tradition from the late 13th to the early 20th centuries.
The 194sq m new look shop has been designed as an integral part of the National Gallery experience, allowing the institution to engage and inspire visitors in novel and exciting ways. Lumsden designed the space as a multi-sensory, three-dimensional experience, playing with scale and taking influences from the unforgettable art, architecture, conservation techniques and materials found in the Gallery.
During the design development process, Lumsden had been inspired by the conservation work carried out at the National Gallery. The colour chosen for the shopwalls was inspired by the Conservation Department, which is painted in a dark inky hue, a shade that gives the conservators the perfect backdrop for their work in protecting and preserving the original paintings and materials. Lumsden also features the use of antique frames, pieces of art in their own right, from the Gallery’s Frame Department where skilled crafts people restore frames using time-honoured techniques. An original frame from a Garofalo painting hangs centrally in the shop, behind the cash and wrap area. This frame can be merchandised to keep the feature fresh and relevant to highlight temporary exhibitions and seasonal events.
