Samsung KX Fuses Pioneering Design With Local Heritage

New showcase in budding shopping district, Coal Drops Yard, blends local design with futuristic architecture to create a unique venue space for the local community

LONDON, UK – August 28 2019 – The hotly anticipated Samsung KX has recently opened under the iconic kissing point of London’s Coal Drops Yard. The 20,000sq ft. space blends innovation and local culture into its design to create a place of discovery for guests.

The architectural prowess of Samsung KX starts with Coal Drops Yard. The internationally renowned London-based Heatherwick Studio has reimagined London’s derelict Victorian warehouses into ‘kissing’ rooftops. The design extends the inner gabled roofs of two heritage rail buildings from the 1850s, with a new, technical structure to form a floating upper storey. The studio’s design includes staggered glass panels which flood the space with natural light, illuminating Samsung KX and boasting iconic views of the retail district and beyond.

Cheil worked with Samsung to conceptualise and deliver the design of Samsung KX, driving the process from initial ideation through to technical planning and construction utilising the visionary space created by Heatherwick Studio.

For the interior, Samsung collaborated with progressive local studios Brinkworth, KSS, and Portview to create an innovative space. Centered around flexibility, everything inside Samsung KX can be adjusted for guests to discover new experiences. The space boasts a Monolithic ceiling which is adaptable in height and unbonded flooring made up of adjustable stone. It also features industrial concrete furniture which can easily be configured to create an auditorium set-up for up to one hundred guests.

Brinkworth designed bespoke furniture for Samsung KX, with each piece adapted for Samsung products to work seamlessly. A combination of materials has also been used within the space including stained oak, mass concrete and mirrored metals to give a premium feel to the retail fixtures. These have then been offset with soft booths and upholstery with steel seating, which nod to London’s infamous recording studios and underground network. Further finishing touches include pieces by up-and-coming British designers Lily Pearmain, Helena Lacy and Tom Dixon.

Samsung KX also features a prominent crystal acrylic installation from Korean designer, Saerom Yoon, representing the brand’s heritage in Seoul. The ‘Blue Pillar’ design purposefully replicates a watercolour painting through his use of carefully selected gradient tones and natural textures to provide a light ambience within the space.

Tanya Weller, Director of Samsung Showcase said: “Samsung KX has been built with local heritage at its heart and this is reflected heavily in the design; right from the roof to the floor tiles. This is a destination which absolutely embodies the community of London while boasting pioneering design and challenging architectural norms. We want to be a destination of culture and innovation and that starts from the building itself. We’re excited to provide a location for the community that fuels the creativity of King’s Cross and beyond.”

To learn more about the diverse range of events and experiences on offer, visit Samsung KX at London’s Coal Drops Yard, or online at www.samsung.com/uk/kx