John McAslan + Partners was commissioned by Land Securities to design a 10-storey mixed use building on a landmark ‘point’ location at the junction of Queen’s Gate and Petty France, London.
This significant project comprises a high-value apartment block with 59 apartments, as well as retail on part of the ground floor, with frontages on Buckingham Gate and Petty France.
The architectural language of Wellington House is based on a contemporary interpretation of the conventional mansion block, with the main body of the building defined as a single volume, clad in masonry. The ninth floor is differentiated with zinc and glass cladding, registering as an attic storey against the skyline, the setback minimizing the building’s apparent height.
Design development has addressed the fact that the triangular site sits within a conservation area, and careful consideration has been given to the building’s Indian Sandstone façade. Surrounded by buildings of various scales, typologies and historic architectural styles, John McAslan + Partners collaborated with the artist Georgia Russell to develop an incised treatment – inspired by the flight pattern of birds and of wind flow – that brings a distinctive new character to the building and creates a visual focal-point for the immediate area.
Wellington House is essentially freestanding, apart from a single storey car-lift link to the building behind it. As a result, all apartments benefit from good daylight, outdoor amenity spaces and superb views across London.