WE shape our buildings; thereafter our buildings shape us,' declared Winston Churchill in 1943, insisting on the reconstruction of the bomb-damaged Commons Chamber to its 'old form, convenience and dignity'. More than 20 years earlier, as Secretary of State for War, he was ensconced in the Old War Office on Whitehall, a stately edifice completed in 1906, sold off by the Ministry of Defence (MoD) in 2016, and now being revitalised as top-notch apartments, restaurants and Raffles's first flagship hotel in Britain known as The OWO (Property comment, July 21, 2021).
As the armed forces modernise and outmoded property is unloaded from Government estates, what is superfluous to needs often translates as architectural treasure for the discerning developer. But there are many factors to consider, including condition, heritage designations, location, communal services, how recently it was mothballed, former use and existing monuments.
Living in a place with military provenance carries a certain cachet; 20 of the 85 apartments in The OWO, due to be completed in a few months' time, have already sold. 'It's extraordinarily impressive,' says Adam Simmonds of residential development sales at Savills. There's even an old spies' entrance on Whitehall Court.' T. E. Lawrence and Ian Fleming once walked the unusually wide corridors here, designed to accommodate a considerable workforce (which even included messengers on bicycles).
Denne historien er fra June 01, 2022-utgaven av Country Life UK.
Start din 7-dagers gratis prøveperiode på Magzter GOLD for å få tilgang til tusenvis av utvalgte premiumhistorier og 9000+ magasiner og aviser.
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Denne historien er fra June 01, 2022-utgaven av Country Life UK.
Start din 7-dagers gratis prøveperiode på Magzter GOLD for å få tilgang til tusenvis av utvalgte premiumhistorier og 9000+ magasiner og aviser.
Allerede abonnent? Logg på
Love in a dry climate
Garden design in the Arizona desert is a matter of adapting to the weather and the terrain and being clever with cacti. The spectacular results fill Kendra Wilson with awe
The spread of Johnny Appleseed
DRIVE along a country lane at this time of the year and you may see an apple tree growing out of the hedgerow.
All that meat and no potatoes
More than merely super-sized burgers and fries, American food is a mouthwatering reflection of the nation's cultural diversity
A Newport state of mind
Once proclaimed to be the original American art form, jazz continues to thrive at the eponymous jazz festival of Rhode Island
Route to the past
Does the world's most famous road still capture the romance of the open road? We brave 1,300 miles of Route 66 to find out
Steady as she goes
Fairy-tale palaces that float upon the sea first appeared in the Edwardian era. A century later, the majestic ocean liners of the 'golden age of travel' continue to captivate
The new Colossus
Standing proud at the 'sea-washed, sunset gates', Lady Liberty became a beacon of hope for immigrants and a symbol of freedom under just and democratic law
The time is now
Agents at Strutt & Parker's Country House Department share their tips to selling your property as they look forward to a busy autumn
The West awakes
All is abuzz in the West Country following a recent surge of activity in the market for large farms and country houses in some of the region's most picturesque locations
Bags of class
Combining classical elegance with distinctive detailing, Lalage Beaumont is passionate about creating bags of exceptional style and quality.
