Client The Lansdowne Club
Location London, UK
Status Built
Completion 2016
Awards
2017 Restaurant & Bar Design Award: Restaurant or Bar in a Heritage Space Finalist
With times changing in London’s club land, established clubs are investing and updating their facilities to meet their members’ evolving expectations. Jestico + Whiles was commissioned by the Lansdowne Club to produce a long-term masterplan, which considered how space might be better utilised throughout their Grade II* listed building. The dining room was identified as an under-performing asset, tired and in need of attention. The club wanted the refurbishment to re-energise the dining experience for members, whilst retaining and augmenting its cherished 1930s White Allom deco character, which had become diluted over the years.
Our approach was to preserve and enhance the remaining original features, whilst making the space work more intensively and flexibly through the introduction of contemporary, historically-referenced additions.
Careful research enabled historic features such as fluted vents, coffered ceilings, and a columned lobby to be restored, and lost features such as concentric silver leaf ceiling details to be reinstated. A new glazed brass screen subtly divides the main dining room, providing structure to it, and allows the room to condense to half the size in less busy periods, yet still retain its buzz. A new wine room glows like a jewellery cabinet, putting the club’s fine cellar on display, and a showpiece Verde Guatemalan marble buffet provides a luxurious counter space for breakfast.
Following our work on the dining room and piano bar, we were invited to take part in a competition to design a new £1m courtyard for the Mayfair club.
