Ikon Shop Refurbishment

After receiving funding from the Arts Council England Transform stage two programme, Ikon’s ground floor shop area is having a much-needed update.

Architects firm Howells helped pull together a brief and Ikon appointed local designers Sculpt Design to reconfigure the shop space, following our sustainable vision and working sympathetically with the building’s materials. As part of the renovation, the shop will expand to create a flexible, open plan environment, improving visitor experience and accommodating more events.

We caught up with Ash Wilson from Sculpt Design to hear more about his involvement.

“We spent a lot of time trying to save useful parts of the existing shop, limiting the amount of waste we created. Thankfully the timber elements we removed were taken by The Wood Shack, a local social enterprise. The wall units already have a very clever and useful display system, which we have added beech elements to, bringing more warmth and softness to the display.

The opening up of the space has been a key aspect of improving visibility and accessibility. The original shop was designed when the building was converted in the late 1990s and the world of galleries and retail has developed a lot since then, so this was a great opportunity to realign the shop with its current needs. We worked closely with the Ikon team to realise this project in line with the aspirations of the brand.

We felt the original design of the building conversion was a key aspect of Ikon’s brand, and rather than develop a new aesthetic we wanted to reflect and harmonise with what was existing. The steel frames and stained beech are present throughout the site and were a key part of the new shop design.”

“The new mid-floor units are fully flexible, allowing the space to be used for multiple purposes. The design of the units also allows for future repair, with panels being removable and replaceable without damaging the rest of the unit. The construction of these elements was developed in conjunction with MJM Bespoke, the joinery fabricators for the project who have been heavily involved with the development of the finer details.

We are delighted to partner with Ikon on this project. It is always a pleasure to work with such prestigious institutions, especially Ikon which is a Birmingham landmark and somewhere we have found very inspirational over the years.”

Ikon Gallery and Shop reopen on Thursday 8 February: please join us from 5-7pm for the launch of our new exhibitions: Start the Press! and Exodus Crooks: Epiphany (Temporaire).

Ikon’s online shop remains open. Shop online here.