I was lucky enough to stumble into a special event they were having, with wine and snacks and notable locals including councillor Adam Vaughn. Also on hand was architect Will Alsop, who designed the store and, more famously, the Sharp Centre for Design just up the street. Cameras were flashing, improptu interviews were being given, and I was just walking around sipping my wine and minding my own business.
The building is quite stricking. Its outside is clad in vertical pink panels which are backlit and apparently produce an impressive effect at night. One employee I talked to called it "Spaceship Umbra". The interior is very open and modern, reminiscent of a gallery space but still very functional for retail. The products were mostly the usual Umbra stuff, bathroom accessories and the like, though they did have some specialty items by Karim Rashid, available on special order.
