Samsung to Open 20,000 sq. ft. Creative and Digital Playground at Coal Drops Yard in London’s King’s Cross

LONDON, England – June 15, 2018 –  Today, Samsung Electronics and Argent announced an agreement to lease a 20,000 sq. ft. showcase space at Coal Drops Yard, the new Heatherwick Studio-designed shopping and lifestyle district in King’s Cross.

Located between two reimagined Victorian coal drops, in a top floor dual-aspect space crowned by Heatherwick Studio’s landmark ‘kissing’ rooftops, Samsung KX LDN sits at the very centre of Coal Drops Yard.

Positioned as an important consumer touch point, Samsung KX LDN will bring the latest technologies to life with curated experiences. The place will also showcase how multiple Samsung devices and services come together to deliver a complete and harmonized experience; making consumers lives easier, more convenient, and more efficient. The showcase space represents a number of unique features designed specifically for this space, envisaged as the ultimate creative and digital playground within which Samsung will present its latest and greatest technology and become the centre of excellence for customer care.

Originally London’s primary coal store, Coal Drops Yard was established in 1850 to handle the eight million tonnes of coal delivered to the capital each year. The original structures have been reinvented by the acclaimed Heatherwick Studio, which has interwoven a striking contemporary design with the surviving grand brick viaducts, cobbled streets and rich ironwork of the Victorian coal drops situated on the site. At Samsung KX LDN, Coal Drops Yard’s original exposed brick work will be maintained, combined with the vibrancy of Samsung’s technology.

The new store joins an expanding line-up of leading retailers that include Paul Smith, Tom Dixon, Cubitts, Manifesto, Cheaney, Form+ Thread and Universal Works – as well as restaurants Barrafina, Casa Pastor and wine bar The Drop – that will open at Coal Drops Yard, which will house 100,000 sq. ft. of shops and restaurants.

Younghee Lee, CMO of Samsung Electronics said: “This flagship space in the heart of Coal Drops Yard will embody the spirit and creativity of our brand and will allow visitors to see, hear, and experience all we have to offer. Samsung KX LDN represents our brand philosophy of ‘Do What You Can’t’ on a remarkable scale, pushing our imagination, design and cultural environment to the edge of what’s possible. I am excited to have this showcase to grow as a true landmark in London.”

Craig White, Project Director at Argent, said: “We are incredibly excited to welcome Samsung to Coal Drops Yard. Their signing represents a real statement of intent; a first-of-a-kind for the UK, in the headline space at Coal Drops Yard. Samsung is pushing the boundaries to create something new, mirroring the approach that has informed our vision for Coal Drops Yard. We look forward to welcoming visitors from London, the UK and the rest of the world – it’s going to be very special.”

Anna Strongman, Partner at Argent, said: “We’ve long described Samsung’s space as London’s greatest shop window, a store with unbounded potential to deliver an experience unlike any other. Samsung’s embrace of the Coal Drops Yard ethos has been vital to creating this unique concept, working with Heatherwick Studio’s striking design to form an experience-led store that represents both the present and future of retail. Samsung is a global leader – a company at the top of its game – and they join a very special mix of like-minded shopkeepers, both established and emerging, that are now confirmed to open at Coal Drops Yard.”

King’s Cross Central Limited Partnership was advised by Hanover Green and Nash Bond.