Interval
Interval is an independent running store in Edinburgh designed to support the city's fast-growing running community.
Runnin' down a dream
Aidan, our client, came to us with his vision – an independent running store in Edinburgh. More than a retail store, it had to be rooted in and serve the local community and the city's running clubs. Working together, we transformed his ambition into a brief that shaped the design for a store that's about more than selling shoes (though that's important, too). Interval is about fostering community and creating space for good things to happen.
Start it up
A modest budget helped crystallise our approach to delivering the most value in the design and our services. We kicked off the process by putting together an initial design centred around the all-important customer experience and three key areas of investment to deliver the biggest impact – shopfront, shop floor and lighting. It proved worth its weight in gold by building momentum around the store, helping define Interval's offer and capturing the attention of running brands.
Loose fit
In just a few months, Aidan landed on the perfect site (a café in its past life) on a prominent corner of Easter Road. From here, we designed the retail concept for the store. Set over ground and basement floors, the plan is all about flow and built-in flexibility. The ground level focuses on the shop's major draw – a trainer wall. Other key elements include a console, a few clothing rails (the only fixed element), a changing room and a treadmill. There are also benches the Interval team can switch out for temporary rails and displays to support parties and events. Domestic-style lighting and furniture create a sense of comfort throughout the space. The basement is being used for storage but will accommodate future growth.
Run this town
Throughout the journey, we've collaborated with local architect and friend Studio AWA to get the design off the page and into the real world. They've handled the building warrant, lease negotiations and managing work on site. In keeping with the spirit of the building, volumes have been reinstated, additions removed, and original features exposed. A couple of highlights are the beautiful timber floor and original signage above the door. Mosaic tiles marking the threshold have also been patched up and will be refurbished later down the line. For now, the focus is getting the doors open in July and letting life in.
“Where to start... collaborative, creative, inspiring and, most importantly, really f**king good at their jobs. It's been a pleasure working with Andy and the wider team. As a first-timer in bricks & mortar retail, they've held my hand when required, challenged me when they see fit, and been wholly understanding of our budget levels. It's cliche, but the minute a studio feels part of your team is the minute you know things are going well.”
Aidan Thomson, Client, Interval
PROJECT
Location: Edinburgh, Scotland
Budget: £40,000
Type: Retail + Community
Timeline: 2023-2024
Status: Completed
STUDIO TEAM
Andy
TEAM
Client: Interval
Local architect: Studio AWA
CREDITS
Illustration: Spera Visual
Brand identity: Luke Willets
Photography: Fredrik Frendin, Adam Mayes. Jim Stephenson
PRESS
Running Sucks
archello
archinect.com
architizer.com
RETAIL JOURNAL
RETAIL FOCUS
AWARDS
Creative Retail Awards 2025 - Highly commended, Independent Store category
Street scene on Easter Road with a group of pedestrians, including people walking dogs, sitting on a bench outside a shoe store, and a shop sign for INTERVAL. The building has multiple windows and a leafless tree casting shadows.
Two men sit on a wooden bench outside a retail store named 'INTERVAL' on Easter Road. One man is drinking from a cup, the other is looking at him. The store has large front windows with shoes and clothing inside.
Storefront sign with the logo '15 Interval' hanging outside next to a wall with shadowed tree branches. Inside display case, visible running shoes on shelves. Text on wall indicating directions to 'Arthur's Seat Summit 3km' and 'Portobello Promenade 4km'.
Display of athletic clothing and sports caps on a wall-mounted rack.
Interior of a retail store featuring sportswear and athletic shoes, with clothing on display, a wooden table with sneakers and accessories, and a poster on the wall reading 'EASTER RD'.
Display of colorful casual and athletic shirts on a clothing rack with caps on a shelf above, inside a retail store with natural light coming in through a window, and a framed picture of a sunset over a mountain landscape hanging on the wall.
A smiling employee standing behind a retail counter in a sports store. Three basketball jerseys hanging on a grid wall behind him, with two orange jerseys and one white jersey in between. Shoes and socks displayed on shelves to the left, and a plant on the counter.
Display of athletic shoes on wooden shelves, books and potted plants on a nearby table, and a red basketball jersey hanging on a red grid wall.
A street corner with a clothing store named 'INTERVAL' on the ground floor of a building at dusk, and a person walking past on the sidewalk.
A clothing store with a mirror, a rack of shirts and jackets, a shelf with hats, a framed photo, a potted plant, and a small chair.
Inside a shoe store with a wooden table displaying shoes, wall-mounted shelves with sneakers, a rack with colorful clothing, and a person near the checkout area.
Two young men in a cafe near a large window, one seated holding a sneaker, the other crouching tying his shoelaces, with shoe boxes and additional sneakers on the wooden floor.
Display of various running shoes on wall shelves in a shoe store.
Inside a retail store, a man is working on a laptop behind a wooden counter. The store has shelves with shoes and clothing, including orange tank tops hanging on a red grid wall. There is a small plant on the counter and a framed poster on the wall. Outside, through the window, part of a wooden bench and sidewalk are visible.
A man crouching in a shoe store while someone else wears a shoe on their foot, with a wall of athletic shoes displayed on shelves in the background.
© Adam Mays
© Adam Mays
People sitting and walking outside a building with a sign that reads 'Interval' on a city street during daytime.
© Adam Mays
© Adam Mays
Three athletic tank tops hanging on a wire grid display. The one in the middle is white, and the two on the sides are orange. All have the word 'INTERVAL' printed across the front, with the brand 'suar' on the shoulder straps.
A young man with a beard, wearing a short-sleeved light shirt and black pants, stands on a city sidewalk with his arms crossed, smiling at the camera. Behind him, a crowd of people gathers outside a shop on a street corner, with a bicycle parked nearby, and a street sign indicating the end of a zone.
A corner storefront illuminated at night, with the sign 'INTERVAL' above the windows, displaying shoes inside. A person stands inside looking at items, with a tree partially obscuring the view.
© Adam Mays
People shopping inside a shoe store with shelves of sneakers on the wall and a table with various hats and accessories, while one person looks at a laptop and another holds a coffee cup.
A group of people gather outside a storefront on a city street, with a bicycle parked nearby and a street sign indicating the end of a zone. The scene includes a building with brick and white trim, a large tree, and a sidewalk.
People gather inside a retail store, seen through a large window, with shoes displayed on shelves in the background.
People shopping and socializing inside a retail store with shoes displayed on shelves, some people looking at products, and a table with hats and other items for sale.
People shopping in a store, one man wearing a gray hoodie and cap, and a woman wearing a black New Balance jacket, facing shelves with athletic shoes.
A street view at night showing a shoe store with a large window, inside three people are sitting on benches and one standing, while a woman outside sits on a bench and uses her phone. The store has shoes displayed on shelves, and the sign above the window reads 'INTERVAL'.
Two men inside a retail store through a window, one reaching for a plant on the table, the other organizing boxes of shoes.
Three people sitting on a windowsill inside a cafe, holding drinks and engaging in conversation. The man on the left has a beer bottle raised in his hand, the man in the middle has a beer in his hand, and the woman on the right has a glass of clear drink.
A behind-the-scenes photo of a photo shoot in a sneaker store with four people, including a man trying on shoes, a man sitting near a window, a woman taking pictures, and a man operating a camera.
Two men working in an indoor space with wooden flooring. One man is vacuuming with a handheld vacuum attached to a machine. The other man is standing behind a counter, pouring water from a plastic bottle.
A man standing with his hands on his hips, smiling, in front of an interior doorway under renovation. He wears a white t-shirt, blue jeans, and sneakers, with a ladder nearby.
Interior of a sunlit store with a customer sitting by the window, displays of colorful shoes on shelves, and a clothing rack with athletic wear.
Image © Spera Visual
Proposed plan
Existing plan
A young man in running gear, including a gray T-shirt, black shorts, black socks, and sneakers, standing with crossed arms and smiling in front of a large green double door. The building has street number 229, and there's an outdoor light fixture and a bulletin board to the right of the door, with some leafy tree branches overhead.
Empty room with peeling paint, construction tools, a bicycle, a ladder, chairs, and construction debris.