RHWL Architects and Manhattan Loft Corporation
Sustainable Architecture and Environment
Description and aims
The St Pancras Cambers building in London is of historic importance and English Heritage has stipulated to the client that all redevelopment and reinstatement works need to comply with EH requirements to maintain this site of importance.
About RHWL Architects and Manhattan Loft Corporation
In 1997 the Chambers Group – consisting of the Whitbread Hotel Company, the Manhattan Loft Corporation and BAA Lynton – won a competition for the redevelopment of St Pancras Chambers, a well-known London landmark and the public face of St Pancras station. The competition was set up by the station’s owners, London and Continental Railways.
RHWL Architects led the design team, and in November 2003 the London Advisory Committee of English Heritage gave the go-ahead for an application for planning and listed building consent. Manhattan Loft has since taken over the role of developer, with Marriott as the hotel operator.
How the project is being undertaken
This project has been done in three phases:
Phase 1: An initial survey was undertaken of 565 rooms with an insight investigation involving paint analysis of one room on each of the five floors.
Phase 2: On-site investigation was conducted into all the principal interiors, including stair and circulation areas.
Phase 3: Full research has been undertaken into the decorative schemes for all the Entrance Hall, Ground Floor Corridor, Grand Coffee Lounge, Grand Stair, First Floor Corridor, Ladies Coffee Lounge and a First Class Bedroom Suite.
Coupled with this, original surfaces and finishes have been revealed by removing over paint using chemical and mechanical means. This has allowed the project team to provide colour references, using a calibrated spectrophotometer, for accurate reinstatement.
Impacts and benefits
All this work has been undertaken to briefs given by the English Heritage Representative. With the insight and understanding gained through the analysis, Crick Smith will act as consultants to oversee future conservation and redecoration.
A wallpaper archive has been assembled as a spin off from this project. Samples of historic wallpapers threatened by the building work have been rescued, researched and conserved.
For more information about the project
Crick Smith Conservation
Institute for Research & Conservation of Historic Decoration
University of Lincoln
Chad Varah House
Wordsworth Street
Lincoln
LN1 3BP
Tel: 01522 895051 or 01522 837426
Fax: 01522 895119
email: info@cricksmith.co.uk
http://www.cricksmith.co.uk
University
Academic Lead
Senior Researchers Ian Crick-Smith and Michael Crick-Smith
Contact
01522 895051