NEW images of the ongoing refurbishment in the Jenners store on Princes Street reveal a swish interior, with work expected to be completed in 2027.
Architectural firm David Chipperfield, which has designed the plans for the refurbished Jenners building, have shared images of what the department store will soon look like.
Jenners, which is Scotland’s oldest independent department store, opened in 1895 until its closure in 2020.
Updates to the redevelopment of the building were made after a fire broke out at the site in 2023, tragically killing firefighter and father of two, Barry Martin.
Now, constructed images give eager Scots a glimpse of what to expect when the building is reopened.
The heart of the building will house a central atrium with a three-storey grand saloon lit by a skylight above.
The saloon is shown to contain a forest green bar, overlooked by balconies wrapping around the inside walls of the building.
The firm regard this as “the most significant space within Jenners”, and an integral part of customer experience.
Pictures show a focus on natural light, as the former-double-height atrium over the Princes Street entrance will be reopened after being infilled in the 1930s to create more space, and a rooftop bar will overlook St Andrew Square.
David Chipperfield state that it is crucial to retain the store’s traditional features and historic significance, whilst combining this with high-end retail and contemporary hospitality.
The insertion of new infrastructure will also create a new route from Princes Street to St Andrew Square.
The category A-listed building was purchased in 2017 by Anders Holch Povlsen, a Danish billionaire who bought the site for a reported £53m.
Considered Scotland’s richest landowner, Povlsen has plans to build a hotel with around 100 rooms in the disused upper floors of the building.
The redevelopment also aims to be sustainable, avoiding use of fossil fuels and installing a “green roof” with the potential of using rainwater in sanitary appliances.
The store was originally expected to be completed this year, but the fire that destroyed much of its interior in 2023 meant that plans were halted.
Now, the building is set to reopen in two years, after planning permission was granted for refurbishment and remodelling of the building in 2022.