Lawson Robb recently featured in The Art of Bespoke, as the publication documents the design scheme at the iconic The Lancasters development. The article explores how the design team worked within the limitations of a listed building and created a scheme that is sympathetic to the architectural heritage whilst embracing contemporary design.
The Lancasters was originally an elegant parade of fifteen stucco-fronted Grade II listed houses dating from the mid-nineteenth. The developers of the project, Minerva and Northacre, retained the façade making it the longest retained Grade II listed façade in Europe but completely rebuilt the property. In doing so, they created a unique fusion of traditional architecture with brand new design and construction.
Lawson Robb commented on the scheme “The developers were looking for a variety of design styles for the show apartments, in order to attract a broad market range of buyers. The client asked us to use our knowledge of the market to create an apartment for the international Ultra and High Net Worth market with a classic/modern approach. We needed to ensure the final design was sympathetic to the history and Georgian architecture of the Lancasters, embracing the period features whilst still appealing a modern thinking client who appreciates contemporary design. Alongside our knowledge of market expectations, we felt it was integral for any buyer to feel like they could ‘own a piece of London history’”.
The apartments are aimed at individuals who have often been exposed to modern and international design from cultures other than their own, the design team drew inspiration from a variety of different cultural styles such as “rich intricate inlays of the Middle East, the vibrancy of Southern Asia, American understated classical detailing paired with the simple lines and impeccable quality of European design”.
