A Smith of Derby interior restaurant clock at the German Gymnasium Restaurant, London (Client: D&D London, in collaboration with Designers: Conran & Partners)
Sitting proudly on the wall of the German Gymnasium, the much-awaited new restaurant and bar complex in between Kings Cross and St Pancras International station, is a stunning new interior clock that perfectly reflects the Grade II-listed building’s fascinating past.
The large, cavernous building was created in 1864 for the German Gymnastics Society and housed the first purpose-build gymnasium in England. In 1866 it was picked by the National Olympian Association to host the indoor events of the first UK-hosted Olympic Games.
152 years since it opened, the redesign of the new restaurant has a contemporary feel but the two-metre diameter restaurant clock was designed to give a nod to the building, and the area’s heritage.
Martin Butchers, Smith of Derby’s Technical Sales Engineer, said:
“We studied works from that time and looked at photographs of the building to help us get a strong sense as to what life was like and what the space in and around the building felt like.”
With the restaurant only a few weeks away from opening when we were commissioned, our team of clockmakers worked around the clock to get the job completed in the nick of time.
The restaurant is now thriving, and the clock a popular talking point.”
Tina Norden, Project Director at Conran and Partners, said:
“When we decided on the idea of having a beautiful clock inspired by the great railway stations in our German Gymnasium restaurant, the first people that came to mind to work with on this were Smith of Derby (Clock Company)”
To read more, please visit Conran & Partner
View German Gymnasium Clock Case Study