Artisan Plastercraft is delighted to be involved with the restoration and conversion of the Old War Office site in Whitehall, the former Ministry of Defence building acquired in 2016 by the Hinduja Group and Obrascón Huarte Lain Desarrollos.
Appointed by Ardmore Group, who are the main contractor for the project, Artisan is responsible for the manufacture and installation of fibrous plasterworks, also providing surveys of the significant areas of heritage plasterwork throughout the complex. (image by Anthony Weller)
Completed in 1906 and containing 1,100 rooms, the former office building was used by Winston Churchill as a headquarters during World War II.
The project involves the restoration of the Grade II* listed historic building to include a 125-room Raffles hotel, and 85 private residences which range in size from studios up to 5-bedroom apartments. Works will include developing a six-storey basement and constructing a three-storey roof extension. The OWO Residences by Raffles will be the first Raffles-branded residences in the UK and Europe.
Within the hotel development, our skills in heritage plaster restoration are put to use with the manufacture and installation of ‘new to match existing’ fibrous plaster cornice, including mould manufacture and on-site repairs to existing cornice and ceilings. We are also manufacturing and installing new fibrous plaster lighting troughs and step profiles, fibrous plaster ceiling centre panels and providing heritage plaster restoration and lime plastering works as the project requires.
The OWO project is planned to be open in 2023. Learn more about The OWO hotel and residencies.
More information about our industry-leading historic plaster restoration is available here.