ENGLISH EXPERTS PROVIDE FRENCH DRESSING FOR TOP PARIS FASHION STORE

Two experts from the architectural restoration team of OCS Cleaning have successfully completed a major project on the bronze shop front at the flagship Paris shop of global fashion house Paul Smith.

OCS Cleaning has 150 years experience of architectural restoration gained through the acquisition in the 1960’s of restoration specialists R Fox and has been responsible for restoring many landmark buildings in London and across the UK. The specialist cleaning team has recently been contracted by architectural metal company Bassett and Findley to carry out a number of projects for the retail arm of top fashion designer Sir Paul Smith. Sir Paul is passionate about his responsibility to caring for the architecture at his store locations. He was awarded Honorary Fellowship of the Royal Institute of British Architects for the contribution he has made towards architecture and design over the years.

The project in Paris required OCS refurbishment experts to utilise bristle brush toning techniques using special pastes to create an even ageing finish to the metal. The work was carried out at the flagship Paul Smith store at Rue Du Fauborg Saint Honore in the ‘Rive Droite’, the most fashionable shopping district of the French capital. The 300 sq metre store was opened by Sir Paul last December when he said, “In restoring 3 Fauborg Saint Honore we have remained true to the building’s architecture and history, and true to the character of Paul Smith. A shop filled with the mix of beautiful clothes and interesting things that I have gathered throughout my travels.”

OCS Cleaning’s managing director Arthur Nuttall said, “This work reflects the skills and expertise which have been handed down to our team over the last century or more. Although we have carved something of a niche in shop front renovation, our work extends from restoring statues in Trafalgar Square to the ageing of modern metal work to ensure compatibility with a building façade. These skills can only be learned by experience and were first brought to France for work on the Eiffel Tower for the great exhibition of 1850. Our people are determined to keep alive what might otherwise be a dying art.”

OCS has expertise in treating all types of metal work with a wide range of restorative techniques developed over the years to provide effective yet economic solutions to the problems of building maintenance. Metals include bronze, brass, anodised aluminium and stainless steel. Stonework such as marble, granite or terrazzo can also be safely restored by the team using techniques such as chemical cleansing, repair by poultice or specialist mechanical resurfacing. The OCS specialists are currently carrying out toning to the heritage bronze work at various London underground stations and re-polishing brass handrails at the Royal Festival Hall.

Chris Cracknell, chief executive of OCS said, “The very specialised work of cleaning and restoration in buildings of architectural merit is a great responsibility. Our highly skilled cleaning team has a well-deserved reputation in this sector and I congratulate them on their often painstaking skills in tackling projects such as this.”