Nickolas Gurtler creates a highly considered space, intricately designed to align with the sleek, luxurious nature of the Brent Wilson brand. Reimagining both the idea of a mens tailor and the heritage nature of the space, the new Brent Wilson store feels modern yet classic while remaining elegant.
Brent Wilson is a mens tailor located within the Strand Arcade in the centre of Sydney’s CBD, in one of Sydney’s most prominent heritage structures built in 1891. The brief was to create a space that didn't feel cluttered and that captured the brand’s essence. “We wanted to reimagine the idea of a tailor store by taking heritage concepts from the history of tailoring and men's suiting and make them feel more modern and contemporary,” says Nickolas Gurtler, principal architect at Nickolas Gurtler and lead designer of the project.
From the façade, a mens tailor storefront remains largely unchanged from the original, evoking a timeless and nostalgic feel. “The building has a lot of heritage elements that were protected, so we couldn’t alter it too much,” says Nickolas.
Upon entry into a mens tailor, one is immediately greeted by a six-metre monolithic-style bench made from leathered Black Caviar marble. Nickolas notes, “we bookmatched it everywhere we could… it creates a sense of elegance and luxury, but also a sense of permanence and heritage.” There is a shoe parlour that houses the footwear display and acts as a waiting area for clients, a ready-to-wear clothing collection and several tailoring rooms.
The fitting rooms are unique – each one designed to encapsulate a distinct personality and atmosphere. Notably, each fitting room has different wall lights from Australian makers, including Lost Profile Studio, Henry Wilson and Tomas Maxam. “We wanted to use those artisans as we feel they mirrored what Brent Wilson does, being an Australian fashion manufacturer,” explains Nickolas. Lighting throughout the store is considered in a similar way, “we wanted to light the product in a way that made it feel luxurious and special, so when you walk through the space there is a real warmth, dimension and sense of interest,” notes Nickolas. For example, integrated LED strips highlight the quality of the craftsmanship and the materials.
Through considered choices in terms of materiality, lighting and texture, Nickolas Gurtler infuses a mens tailor in Sydney with the opulence and timeless charm that defines the brand.
00:00 - Introduction to the Mens Tailor
00:40 - A Sleek Brief
01:23 - The Planning and Design Process
01:56 - A Walkthrough of the Tailor
03:02 - Featuring Australian Artisans
03:29 - The Importance of Lighting
04:00 - Connecting with the Heritage Elements
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Interior Design by Nickolas Gurtler.
Filmed and Edited by The Local Project.
Production by The Local Project.
Location: Sydney, New South Wales, Australia
The Local Project acknowledges the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples as the Traditional Owners of the land in Australia. We recognise the importance of Indigenous peoples in the identity of our country and continuing connections to Country and community. We pay our respect to Elders, past and present and extend that respect to all Indigenous people of these lands.
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