The Design Solution lauded with Princes Square project

The company provided the Scottish project with retail planning, interior design, the shopping centre identity, design handbook and approvals. Initially what was an off-street courtyard on the city’s main street, was transformed in 1987 by architects Hugh Martin & Partners and was the first flagship project for TDS.

The Design Solution founder and managing director Robbie Gill reflected on the significance of the Princes Square project: “Our work on Princes Square was noticed by the then recently privatised BAA (then owner of 7 UK airports, including Glasgow airport) and, faced with intense regulatory pressures to reduce landing charges, BAA was founding its retail revolution to drive new standards of retail operations and drive non-aeronautical revenue.

“The Princes Square development expressed the innovative creativity and commercial awareness that BAA was seeking for its airport retail space at Gatwick, matching the very best of the domestic retail sector. BAA went on, of course, to transform its retail spaces and the echoes of that revolution continue to influence airport retail design to this day. From Princes Square we went on to land our first major project with BAA, at Gatwick North terminal, in 1989.

“For The Design Solution that first BAA project was the launch of our specialisation in airport environments: the UK was Country #1, Airport #1, Terminal #1 and Job #1.  Since then we have worked in 55 countries, 117 airports, 149 terminals, 331 projects, with over 2.5 billion passengers passing through airports we have worked on.  All thanks to Princes Square.  I think Princes Square remains a guiding beacon of design not only for its enduring appeal to the shopper but also for its commercial effectiveness, which is powerfully supported by the building’s wonderful sense of place.

“I’m not sure that the term ‘Sense of Place’ even existed at the time but the building’s continuing appeal to the public emphasises the importance and effectiveness of good design in influencing the behaviour of the shopper.  The amazing thing is that, in the fast moving world of retail, this shopping centre has remained almost untouched for nearly 30 years – demonstrating that good design is an investment that endures.”

Princes Square is a speciality shopping centre of around 65 shops across five floors, occupying 8,500sq m. The original building was as an open square surrounded by listed office buildings with a central courtyard and a stable block in the middle.  The transformation included the demolition of the stables, roofing over the square, designing galleries in front of the facade and also sensitively converting the facade into shopfronts for the shops and restaurants, with each level lined linked with lifts and escalators.