Luxury lighting and design studio Apparatus opened its London space over two years ago, establishing it as the brand's European flagship. The focus was to craft an environment that is both a stage for Apparatus's collections and an architectural statement. Located in the heart of Mayfair, the project was brought to life by Timothy Shepherd during his tenure as Managing Director at Buckley Gray Yeoman Interior Design.

Since then, Timothy has launched the practice, Shepherd& with three other founders, continuing to craft environments where design and architecture intertwine. Building on the creative relationship made, Timothy continues to specify Apparatus luminaries, including in their latest, The Shepherd Mayfair.

With studios established in New York and Los Angeles, each with a distinct identity shaped by their architectural and geographic context, this London site is the first gallery Apparatus has opened within a listed heritage building. The challenge was to sensitively insert the brand's distinct design identity into an architectural heritage space. Situated on Mount Street across two floors, the space previously held a John Pawson designed interior for a luxury fashion retailer. Now redesigned as a gallery that reflects Apparatus' ethos of balancing mechanisation and the hand-made, striving equally for the contradictions of perfection and the beautiful irregularity of humanity.

The team approached the project by opening up the existing architecture, carefully balancing the listed structure with the technical ambition of creating a fully flexible environment. The result is a space that blurs the boundaries between showroom, gallery, and sanctuary - an approach that speaks to the growing trend for experimental retail design.

“I remember as a child being fascinated with my grandmothers hands…this was how I began to understand that our hands are the tools through which we communicate want is meaningful to us.” - Gabriel Hendifar, Co Founder of Apparatus

The two levels both present contrasting atmospheres and lighting approaches. The upper floor is light and airy, defined by a soft palette and natural materials, with alcove windows framing curated displays. The lower level embraces a darker, more mysterious mood, where a central sofa dominates the room harmonising with the ceiling lights unique to this floor. Dark mirrored walls add depth, while playful hanging lights animate shadowed corners, creating a layered and immersive environment.

Central to the design is a ceiling that is a completely adaptable system. Apparatus' installations can now be reset, repositioned, and reimagined without compromising the architectural integrity of the space. To achieve this, Shepherd& developed a demountable construction using lightweight aluminium honeycomb panels finished with a custom plaster surface. Months of testing and refinement went into ensuring the system would operate both safely and elegantly, allowing the Apparatus team to adapt the environment with ease.

The transition between levels becomes an architectural gesture in itself. A stone portal begins the journey upstairs, while a walnut burl–panelled staircase draws visitors and clients into the lower lounge. Originally a white plaster curve, the stairs were dismantled and completely remodelled off-site, its geometry refined before being clad in v-grooved lacquered walnut burl panels. Details elevate the experience at every touchpoint, including a bespoke brass handrail wrapped in hand-stitched suede and brass stair nosings with detailed grooves. These layers of material refinement transform the act of moving through the space into a complete composition.

“The result of this project is a gallery that showcases Apparatus with precision and adaptability, while navigating the complexities of a heritage setting. Pushing materiality and detailing to the millimetre, the design balances technical ingenuity with crafted refinement,” notes Timothy Shepherd, Co-Founder and MD of Shepherd&.

The London gallery is more than an address to Apparatus, it's a signature expansion for the brand and a showcase of precision and adaptability, which was supported by those at Shepherd& (Buckley Gray Yeoman ID at the time of the project). By uniting architectural sensitivity, a commitment to material exploration and the complexities of a heritage setting, the project forms a new narrative for contemporary retail and cultural experience in London.

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For press opportunities, please contact Caroline Knight at caroline@informare.co.uk and Dominique Klesnik-Edwards at dominique@informare.co.uk

About Shepherd&

Shepherd& is a visionary design studio, founded by four creatives with a shared passion for transformation through architecture, interiors, and visual and digital art. With a portfolio spanning residential, commercial, hospitality, workplace, and retail sectors, the team delivers exceptional spaces and experiences at every scale.

As translators of experience, Shepherd& fuses architecture, art, and narrative into meaningful spaces that reflect clients' aspirations. From concept to execution, Shepherd& offers a meticulous, design-driven process rooted in collaboration and a deep respect for each client's individual identity, lifestyle, and goals.

With studios in London's Soho and Paris' iconic 16th Arrondissement, Shepherd& reflects the creative pulse of both cities, channelling inspired, transformative design.

SHEPHERD&