Selectaglaze, specialists in bespoke secondary glazing, were chosen to bring their expertise to the former Old War Office, in London, Whitehall. This magnificent Grade II* listed building, now known as The OWO, is London’s new luxury destination. It features Raffles London at the OWO, a collection of 9 restaurants and 3 bars, and The OWO Residences by Raffles.
Selectaglaze treated a huge number of openings – 609 in total – and created a large piece of secondary glazing history too.
Completed in 1906, the OWO has a long and storied past. Winston Churchill, Ian Fleming, and TE Lawrence once walked the 2.5 miles of corridors within this beautiful Baroque-style landmark. It witnessed two World Wars, the Suez Crisis and the Cold War. But it had become one of Whitehall's sleeping giants. Its imposing Edwardian façades and spectacular interiors deserved greater things. So, when plans were announced for Raffles London at the OWO, alongside The OWO Residences by Raffles, consisting of 85 private residences, Selectaglaze was proud to be part of the transformation.
Trusted partners, skilled craftspeople
This tremendous renovation project involved extensive excavations, foundations, and remodelling. Then, hundreds of skilled craftspeople undertook a labour of love, restoring period features, including hand-laid mosaic floors, rich oak panelling, magnificent chandeliers, and the dramatic marble staircase. Selectaglaze's brief was to design and install sympathetic, unobtrusive secondary glazing. In contrast to all the outstanding, intricate craftsmanship on show, they would be evaluated based on the invisibility of their work.
Working with the main contractor, Ardmore, and EPR Architects, they used their long history of working on heritage retrofits to create solutions that reflected classic Edwardian architecture, whilst transforming the space for modern living.
The teams collaboratively explored design options that honoured the architectural heritage, complemented the interior, and met the particularly challenging size requirements. Working closely with EPR, they went through numerous design options and iterations before creating the perfect marriage of classic and modern.
The height of perfection
Selectaglaze’s sensitive retrofit solutions respected the original architecture from both the outside and inside whilst complementing interior designer The Office of Thierry Despont's vision of timelessly classic spaces reimagined for modern hospitality.
From an acoustic and thermal point of view, the glazing solution needed to keep out the sounds of Whitehall hustle and bustle, and keep the warmth in. Majority of the glazing treatments included thick laminated glass, helping to create quieter and warmer sanctuaries. For increased protection, several certified security products were also included.
The size of many of these magnificent floor-to-ceiling windows meant that heavy-duty frames were necessary. The majority of these were finished in bronze metallic for a timeless look. Finally, to ensure unspoilt Whitehall views and to remain genuinely unobtrusive, vertical sliding systems matched the sightlines of the marvellous Edwardian originals.
Secondary glazing firsts
Some of the original windows were up to 4.25m high, too big for existing products and so Selectaglaze design experts created a new addition to the product range; Series 91, with a balance configuration to manage up to 100kg of glazing.
The team’s attention to the smallest of details, led to the development of a new smooth lock actuator to operate the concealed multipoint locking system for an even sleeker, neater finish.
Installed with military precision
Timing and planning were crucial for this large-scale renovation and remodelling project. Selectaglaze's expert in-house installation team used a two-stage process. First, they built the frames into Ardmore's exquisitely finished joinery. They then fitted the sashes, ensuring everything aligned with precision. This process highlights the successful collaboration between the two site managers.
The perfect finish
The final result is breathtaking. Selectaglaze takes pride in being part of such a magnificent transformation. The OWO is a special addition to the company's Whitehall heritage buildings project portfolio, alongside the nearby Banqueting House, Corinthia and Great Scotland Yard.
