Princes House

This complex Grade II listed building owned by the Crown Estate sits within the St James conservation area its imposing main façade fronts directly onto Piccadilly. Constructed between 1881-83 for occupation by the Royal Society of Painters in Watercolours, the building was significantly altered in the 1930s with the introduction of a retail arcade linking Piccadilly with Jermyn Street.

The original Piccadilly façade was rebuilt below second floor level and further changes were carried out during the second half of the 20th Century, culminating in the complete rebuilding of the arcade in the 1980s. The building houses a variety of uses, predominantly retail at ground floor, with office use within the Jermyn Street wing and BAFTA occupying the upper floors of the main Piccadilly Street block.

The client brief was multifaceted and centred on a desire to enhance the retail offer, introduce a new restaurant at basement level, refurbish the Jermyn Street offices and facilitate the refurbishment and upgrading of the BAFTA headquarters. It was also essential that the building remained in occupation throughout the construction works.

The development maximised the potential of this historic building. The entrances to Princes Arcade and BAFTA, as well as the Jermyn Street offices, are given stronger presence and new identity. The retail arcade and interior accommodation have been upgraded and the building made more sustainable to better adapt to the demands of the modern world.

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