Selfridges, the famous retail emporium, required a new, state-of-the-art store, in contrast with their neo-classical flagship building in London’s Oxford Street. They also wanted a structure that would provide an architectural landmark for Birmingham and give a new impetus to urban regeneration. Future Systems, innovative British architectural firm, with their speciality of designing iconic, mould-breaking buildings, were eminently qualified for the task. Selfridges Manchester is everything unexpected of a retailer situated in the heart of a historic pedestrian area.

Future Systems re-interpreted the notion of a department store, not only in its form and appearance, but also by analyzing the social function such a building plays in contemporary society. Its relationship to the church is significant, representing the religious and commercial lives of the city that have evolved side by side over hundreds of years. Selfridges Department Store is a highly competitive retailer that aims to “encapsulate the spirit of modern society”. Their intention is to reinvent the meaning of “leisure time” and the shopping experience as an aspect of that time.

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