Stephen Skinner • Whitehall Court
Entrance & Lobby Refurbishment Arriving at the Farmers Club visitors are now welcomed by a marvellous entrance and lobby area. Stephen Skinner explains this significant renovation project
The ramp and steps in their position before the work commenced – but this was not the original position of the steps.
With the steps and ramp removed, along with many tonnes of rubble too, the marble steps in their original position are exposed and, incredibly, a fine terrazzo floor.
“ROME wasn’t built in a day” may be a medieval French phrase yet it is strangely apt in the case of the Entrance & Lobby Project. Time it certainly took from inception but the result has been worth waiting for. The refurbishment of the Entrance and Lobby of No 3 Whitehall Court had been scheduled for the building’s major works programme in 2002, but not until ten years later did the project get underway in earnest. Architects were appointed, and after extensive research into the original design and the many alterations that had occurred since 1883, a plan emerged to reinstate original detail where possible, to provide sympathetic updating and to enhance access.
“After extensive research into the original design, and the many alterations that had occurred since 1883, a plan emerged.”
Even after the designs had been approved by local planners and by groups dedicated to preserving Britain’s architectural heritage, the final details continued to evolve. Changes in configuration of the porters’ lodge, design of the terrazzo flooring and changes in quantities of marble and other stone meant years were added to the project. London landmark Through it all, the ambition to reinstate the character of the entrance and lobby of an important London landmark was never lost. The architecture and engineering of Whitehall Court represent one of the most significant design achievements of Victorian London. As one of the first steel and concrete buildings in the country,
12 • The Farmers Club Harvest 2020
After Superior Stone had weaved their magic, the full splendour of the long-hidden terrazzo is brought to life.
and as one of the tallest mixed-use structures of its day, it is protected by its Grade II* listing as an important historic site. Yet, while the exterior facades and roof line have made an uninterrupted contribution to the image of London along the Thames for 137 years, the lobby and entrance had been much altered since the original construction, and often not for the better. Long-delayed maintenance and patchwork repairs had tarnished the character of the interior. Unveiling it all Rotating doors had been added in the 1970s. Carpet had covered the intricate terrazzo flooring. Skylights and windows had been blanked out. Heavy traffic had damaged faux marble details and heavy smoking had stained the white Carrara marble ceiling a dirty brown. Marble steps and panels and alabaster cornices were damaged or missing. Poor lighting contributed to a dirty, dingy appearance. Symbolic of the state of maintenance and repair was a “temporary” wooden ramp for users of wheelchairs, baby carriages and wheeled luggage. It had been in place for more than a decade. In 2016 as I was leaving The Farmers Club, I was invited to serve as Project Co-ordinator for the refurbishment because I knew many of the people involved, I knew the building well and had just seen Project CREST through to conclusion (well, nearly anyway). This part-time role brought enlightenment and frustration in equal measure.
