Lewis's fifth floor: Liverpool's forgotten design storey

Stephen King's project began in 2008, when the artist approached producers Neutral Spoon with an idea to celebrate Lewis's 150-year history Photograph: Stephen King/Lewis's Department Store Photograph: guardian.co.uk The fifth floor had once been a busy shopping space, complete with three restaurants and a hair salon Photograph: Stephen King/Lewis's Department Store Photograph: guardian.co.uk After gaining access to the fifth floor, King realised he needed people to bring the space alive. Enter 38 members of staff, past and present, who agreed to be photographed and interviewed Photograph: Stephen King/Lewis's Department Store Photograph: guardian.co.uk A former member of staff cuts a nostalgic figure in the deserted kitchen Photograph: Stephen King/Lewis's Department Store Photograph: guardian.co.uk Two employees pose among an abandoned jumble of manequins Photograph: Stephen King/Lewis's Department Store Photograph: guardian.co.uk Not everything had been cleared away since its closure. Here, relics from various decades are stacked up Photograph: Stephen King/Lewis's Department Store Photograph: guardian.co.uk Spider-Man, plastic dogs and giant Monopoly boards have left their mark – but the mosaic tiles look original Photograph: Stephen King/Lewis's Department Store Photograph: guardian.co.uk Much of the stock, such as these Christmas decorations, was left to its fate when the floor closed Photograph: Stephen King/Lewis's Department Store Photograph: guardian.co.uk Many of the fixtures, such as this rather elegant lighting rig, have remained untouched for decades Photograph: Stephen King/Lewis's Department Store Photograph: guardian.co.uk Even the wallpaper in one of the fifth floor restaurants remains just as it was Photograph: Stephen King/Lewis's Department Store Photograph: guardian.co.uk And carefully coordinating tiles were left in place, too Photograph: Stephen King/Lewis's Department Store Photograph: guardian.co.uk An ornate metallic frieze stands intact beside the dining area Photograph: Stephen King/Lewis's Department Store Photograph: guardian.co.uk As does this rather beautiful 50s flower-print wallpaper Photograph: Stephen King/Lewis's Department Store Photograph: guardian.co.uk An exhibition dedicated to Lewis's fifth floor will be at Liverpool's National Conservation Centre from 26 February to 31 August 2010. Meanwhile, interviews with the staff and more photographs can be found on the project's website Photograph: Stephen King/Lewis's Department Store Photograph: guardian.co.uk