The Grade II* listed former Old War Office building has been undergoing a massive transformation over the last five years to become 85 homes and a Raffles hotel with 125-rooms and suites. A collection of nine restaurants and bars, an spa, a swimming pool, and a garden will also be included.
Dubbed The OWO Residences by Raffles, the building was originally completed in 1906 and designed by William Young. It was built on the site of the original Palace of Whitehall, home to Henry VIII and other monarchs, and was also used as Winston Churchill’s HQ during WWII, was John Profumo’s base when he was Secretary of State, and has been featured in multiple James Bond movies (after helping to inspire Ian Fleming to create the series after working for Britain’s Naval Intelligence Service).
Residences have ceiling heights reaching up to 14.4 feet with floor-to-ceiling windows. Many residences also incorporate original heritage features such as oak paneling and mosaic flooring. Each residence will be uniquely tailored to suit its location within the building with duplex, lateral, and penthouse units ranging in size from studios to five-bedrooms. Prices for two-bedroom units will start from $8 million. Raffles Hotels & Resorts will operate the 125-room and suite flagship hotel at The OWO, as well as the 85 branded residences.
At the helm of The OWO project is the Hinduja Group, an international multi-billion turnover group founded in 1914 that acquired the building in 2014. It has worked with a team of experts including Historic England and Museum of London Archaeology, and appointed EPR Architects to oversee the redevelopment. The hotel interiors are being designed by New York-based designer Thierry Despont. 1508 London designed the residence interiors.
The OWO Residences by Raffles is slated to open in 2022.
Related Stories
Smart Buildings | May 28, 2015
4 ways cold-climate cities can make the most of their waterfronts
Though cold-climate cities pose a unique challenge for waterfront development, with effective planning waterfront cities with freezing winter months can still take advantage of the spaces year-round.
Sponsored | Coatings | May 14, 2015
Prismatic coatings accent the new Altara Center
This multi-use campus will contain a university, sports facilities, medical center, and world-class shopping
Mixed-Use | May 10, 2015
Construction on Orlando’s massive ‘innovation hub’ is finally starting
The $1 billion Creative Village development will create a business and education hub.
High-rise Construction | May 6, 2015
Two new designs submitted for New York City Riverside Center
Both designs reference the cantilevers and other elements featured in architect Christian de Portzamparc’s original masterplan for the complex, which has now been scrapped.
Building Owners | May 6, 2015
Hackathons and RFCs: Why one developer killed the RFP
In lieu of an RFP process, Skanska Commercial Development hosted a three-week "hackathon" to find an architect for its 2&U tower in Seattle.
Mixed-Use | May 5, 2015
Miami ‘innovation district’ will have 6.5 million sf of dense, walkable space
Designing a neighborhood from the ground-up, developers aim to create a dense, walkable district that fulfills what is lacking from Miami’s current auto-dependent layout.
Hotel Facilities | Apr 30, 2015
Atlanta Braves partner with Omni Hotels & Resorts to build hotel near new Suntrust Park
The Omni Atlanta Northwest Hotel will feature 16 floors with 260 guest rooms and suites, rooftop hospitality suites, 12,500 sf of meeting space, a signature restaurant, and an elevated pool deck and bar overlooking the plaza and ballpark.
Hotel Facilities | Apr 29, 2015
OMA unveils design for the Netherlands' largest hotel
Once completed, and if approved, the structure will add three stacked cubes to the Amsterdam skyline.
High-rise Construction | Apr 23, 2015
Size matters in NYC, where several projects vie for the city’s tallest building honor
The latest renderings of 217 West 57th Street show a tower that would rise higher than the World Trade Center’s pinnacle, when elevations are included.
High-rise Construction | Apr 22, 2015
Architects propose sustainable ‘vertical city’ in the Sahara
Designers aim to make the 1,476-foot tower sustainable, relying on rainwater collection, solar power, and geothermal energy.