Jestico + Whiles has now completed a restoration of London County Hall for conference venue company, etc.venues.
Working closely with etc.venues’ Head of Design Franck Rosello and technical architects, Synergy Architects, the team has delivered a design that is faithful to the concept of etc. venues’ other locations, while creating a unique, world-class venue for its clients close to the West End.
This Lambeth icon is undoubtedly one of London’s finest buildings, opened in 1922 by King George V. Construction started in 1911, though the north and south blocks were added in the late 30s and another block as late as the 70s. For over six decades the building served as London County Council’s HQ and subsequently the home of the GLC.
Jestico + Whiles’ design references the cultural and geographic area, and takes inspiration from the building’s historic fabric and original function.
“The location is reminiscent of a bygone and more innocent time, the paper-pushing and cigarette-smoking era of the 40s, 50s and 60s, and the design seeks to reflect the relative insouciance and romance of this period,” explains James Dilley, Head of Interior Design at Jestico + Whiles.
“The design drew inspiration from the art deco era and its powerful use of linear geometries. We used the idea of a ‘frame within a frame’ rule for the joinery and a linear design language throughout to express that.”
