The Painted Hall, Greenwich

GIA: 2,100m²
Cost per m²: £1,667

 

This inspirational project has restored and conserved Sir James Thornhill’s 3,700m² of painted surfaces, one of the most significant Baroque interiors in Europe.  The internal environment in the Painted Hall needed stabilising, so new lighting, heating and ventilation have been incorporated and concealed with meticulous attention to detail to ensure they blend seamlessly with the historic setting. The building’s undercroft has been sensitively reused by removing the 1950s kitchen and returning it to its original use as a place to eat and socialise, with a new café, shop and reception space. Entered from below via the ‘new’ undercroft, Thornhill’s magnificent room becomes the big reveal.  Conservation work on the now fully accessible Painted Hall has allowed more than 80,000 visitors to see it at close quarters, creating a major new cultural destination for London.

London Conservation Award