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
Mixed-Use | Aug 17, 2017
Manhattan’s Union Square gets its very own farmhouse
GrowNYC, a sustainability-focused nonprofit, commissioned ORE Design to create the community events center and learning space.
Mixed-Use | Aug 15, 2017
A golf course community converts into an agrihood with 1,150 homes and a working olive grove
The community will cover 300 acres in Palm Springs, Calif.
Mixed-Use | Aug 10, 2017
Mixed-use development includes University of California-San Diego campus extension
The 562,000-sf development was designed by Carrier Johnson + CULTURE and is located five blocks from the San Diego Padres’ Petco Park.
Mixed-Use | Aug 9, 2017
Mixed-use development will act as a gateway to Orange County’s ‘Little Saigon’
The development will include apartments, ground-floor retail, and a five-story hotel.
Mixed-Use | Aug 8, 2017
Dorte Mandrup’s 74,000-sm masterplan will be highlighted by an IKEA and BIG’s ‘Cacti’
The mixed-use development links a new IKEA store, a hotel, and housing with green space.
Mixed-Use | Aug 3, 2017
A sustainable mixed-use development springs from a Dutch city center like a green-fringed crystal formation
MVRDV and SDK Vastgoed won a competition to redevelop the inner city area around Deken van Someren Street in Eindhoven.
Mixed-Use | Aug 2, 2017
Redevelopment of Newark’s Bears Stadium site receives team of architects
Lotus Equity Group selected Michael Green Architecture, TEN Aquitectos, Practice for Architecture and Urbanism, and Minno & Wasko Architects and Planners to work on the project.
Retail Centers | Jul 20, 2017
L.A.’s Promenade at Howard Hughes Center receives a new name and a $30 million cash injection
Laurus Corporation and The Jerde Partnership will team up to rebrand the center as a family-friendly dining and entertainment destination.
Office Buildings | Jul 12, 2017
CetraRuddy unveils seven-story office building design for Staten Island’s Corporate Park
Corporate Commons Three is expected to break ground later this summer.
Mixed-Use | Jul 7, 2017
ZHA’s Mandarin Oriental hotel and residences employs ‘stacked vases’ design approach
The mixed-use tower will rise 185 meters and be located in Melbourne's Central Business District.