Completed Projects: London's Prestigious Princes Arcade

Built between the years of 1929 and 1933, Princes Arcade in London connects Jermyn Street with Piccadilly. In 2017, the famous shopping arcade underwent major refurbishment as the owners sought to establish 'a space for innovative retail brands'. Stone Concepts was contracted by Crown Estates and Ellmer Construction to design and install a new stone floor at the arcade, along with other associated items.

The vision for the new Princes arcade was to combine modern design approaches with the rich heritage of the area, redefining the classic shopping arcade of the Regency era for contemporary brands and their customers. Our team therefore had to create an installation that would maintain the arcade's aesthetic while simultaneously introducing new elements.

In addition to the stone floor and antique highlights created by Stone Concepts, the arcade's new design incorporated enhanced lighting, reconfigured units, a double-height glazed frontage and beautiful canopied entrances designed by talented artist Andrew Bick.

The new units at Princes Arcade were created in a range of sizes from a compact 150 square feet to an expansive 1,200 square feet. Retailers trading from the arcade include iconic Italian menswear designer Luca Faloni, top-class milliner Christy's and gourmet chocolatier Prestat: this latter retailer was the inspiration for the timeless children's book Charlie and the Chocolate Factory by Roald Dahl.

The expert Stone Concepts team were responsible for meeting a comprehensive remit, which included designing, drafting and drawing. We also sourced the premium-quality materials and carried out the entire installation. Spanish Grey flamed material was selected for a number of reasons, including its sumptuous aesthetic, exceptional durability and impressive slip-resistance.

The work took place in the period leading up to Christmas, which is one of the arcade's busiest times. To ensure minimal disruption and to allow retailers to remain open, our team worked through the night; the works were then protected during the day. The project was completed on time and to the delight of the arcade's managers.

You can find out more details about this and other completed projects on the Stone Concepts website. Please subscribe to our newsletter for more updates, news and special features.