The process began six months prior to installation, following acceptance of The Velvet Principle’s designs and our production costs. We worked in collaboration with the client team, which included a wayfinding consultant, architect, developer and designer.
We start every large architectural project by producing a detailed schedule. This is used as a working document to reflect the changes to specification that occur during site surveys, meetings or in email dialogue. In our schedule, every sign is assigned a unique code, which can be cross-referenced with sign location plans. The document gives our clients piece of mind that we fully understand the design intent and we communicate this detail to all members of our design, manufacturing and installation teams.
Alongside scheduling, we manufactured samples of each different sign type to provide a benchmark for agreed quality standards. Once samples and schedules were approved, we could commence manufacture and installation planning.
The specification was for high-end materials to match those used throughout the fit-out. Each laser cut letter needed an antique brass finish to give the right patination and some of the signs were powder coated in a dark bronze. A jewellery-like quality was specified, so we hand-finished and polished each letter and number to achieve a burnished effect.
During the installation process, we agreed the exact location for each sign with the architect. Some of these needed to be changed and fixings adapted due to textured wall finishing. We also sourced specialist tapes, which is an essential part of working in a listed building, since you can’t drill into the walls.
We completed the installation of this permanent signage in phases to coordinate with the construction milestones. Although this was a complex project, it went very smoothly from start to finish.