The remodelled David Morgan store, Cardiff, Wales - 1951
I do like a 1950s store design and they are now, as constructed, virtually extinct in the UK. This article in the November 1951 Art & Design describes the remodelling of the once famous Cardiff department store of David Morgan's, now closed, by designer Gaby Schreiber FSIA.
The text describes the fact that due to post-war restrictions on building refurbishing existing estanblishments was the main route to renewal at the time and shows several departments as reconstructed, such as the Restaurant Suite and the new Deymel Delicatessen, the latter looking superbly continential in style/ There is also a description of some of the shop fittings and display equipment - I'd love that free-standing perfumery show case - and also, with b/w photography, gives an indication of the colour schemes and materiality used.
Gaby Schreiber (1916 - 1991) was born in Austria but came to the UK in 1938 and became a noted designer working for many companies such as Marks and Spencer and Cunard.
I wonder when all this was swept away? Retail 'environments' are notoriously fashion-led and so fickle survivors. David Morgan's building survives despite an early closure in 2005. Always independent the company had opened in 1879 with the main Cardiff building, and associated arcades, dating from the 1890s and early 20th century.
The remodelled David Morgan store, Cardiff, Wales - 1951
I do like a 1950s store design and they are now, as constructed, virtually extinct in the UK. This article in the November 1951 Art & Design describes the remodelling of the once famous Cardiff department store of David Morgan's, now closed, by designer Gaby Schreiber FSIA.
The text describes the fact that due to post-war restrictions on building refurbishing existing estanblishments was the main route to renewal at the time and shows several departments as reconstructed, such as the Restaurant Suite and the new Deymel Delicatessen, the latter looking superbly continential in style/ There is also a description of some of the shop fittings and display equipment - I'd love that free-standing perfumery show case - and also, with b/w photography, gives an indication of the colour schemes and materiality used.
Gaby Schreiber (1916 - 1991) was born in Austria but came to the UK in 1938 and became a noted designer working for many companies such as Marks and Spencer and Cunard.
I wonder when all this was swept away? Retail 'environments' are notoriously fashion-led and so fickle survivors. David Morgan's building survives despite an early closure in 2005. Always independent the company had opened in 1879 with the main Cardiff building, and associated arcades, dating from the 1890s and early 20th century.