Raffles at The Old War Office

History

The seven-storey Old War Office on London’s Whitehall was completed in 1906. An Edwardian masterpiece, it contains 1000 rooms and two-and-a-half miles of corridors. Early in the century, it was the birthplace of espionage departments MI5 and MI6, while Winston Churchill bellowed briefings to his staff from one of its internal balconies during the Second World War. Among those listening was an intelligence officer, Ian Fleming, later the creator of James Bond.

After years of service, the Grade II* listed building took on a new lease of life when it was sold and prepared for opening as a hotel. From 2016, a partnership of the Hinduja Brothers, Onex Holding and Raffles Hotels commissioned a sweeping restoration, during which craftsmen revived fine mosaics, marble carvings, chandeliers, wood panelling and stonemasonry. This ambitious refurbishment, managed by the late designer Thierry Despont, added elements of contemporary luxury to the building, to create an unparalleled guest experience.

INGENUITY

Wandsworth Electrical, with 120 years of expertise in heritage and contemporary installation, were asked by interior specialists 1508 London to design and manufacture bespoke switches and sockets for this exceptional project. These products now feature prominently in 120 spectacular rooms and suites, some in turreted cupolas with skyline views and others in former staterooms; 85 private residences with private garden; nine destination restaurants and three chic bars; a wellness sanctuary, triple-height pool, state-of-the-art gym, grand ballroom, and designer meeting spaces.

“It was an honour to be invited to work on Raffles London at OWO,” says Hüseyin Musalar, Wandsworth’s Head of Sales. “From day one, we strove to respect the building’s status and to implement the vision. We wanted to achieve seamless integration, and the finest finishes.”

“We wanted high standards of service, because of the importance of the project. Hüs brought those, together with dedication and all-round assistance,’ says Sokol Lika at Strucktor, then Senior MEP Manager for Ardmore.

“Yes, it’s always great to work with Wandsworth,” agrees Stacey Hancock, then Project Manager for electrical sub-contractors Elecro, and now at Strucktor. “They’re interested in quality, which isn’t always the case with competitors. Right from the outset, they went the extra mile for us, to deliver the aesthetics of the design.”

Delivery

The finished hotel was unveiled in 2022, capturing modern opulence in what press called ‘The London Opening of the 21^st Century.’  It is a showstopping experience that co-owner Gopichand Parmanand Hinduja has described as ‘my greatest legacy to London.’

“We focused on detail,” says Hüseyin Musalar, at Wandsworth. “We colour-matched the brass plates to their settings one-by-one, taking account of the light levels in each room to get the right patina. Our team then made all the products in our UK factory. We created new features, including bespoke, engraved kitchen grids for the Residences. These were sized and arranged individually, to fit each location. At one point we even shared technical detail with a competitor, to get the best results for the project.”

“We were excited,” he continues, “to see installation of Wandsworth fittings alongside others from Gira, our owner and partner, for the first time. Overall, we’re proud to have played a part in a world-class refurbishment, and to think of the building going forward into a new era with our products as part of the work.”

Stacey Hancock says, “Working with Wandsworth was excellent, as always. You get the best from them. You get more than kit, you get after-care, because they’re interested in knowing everything’s okay. They listened to us on site, came up with a range of ideas when we asked for them, and then delivered. In short, they’re a really good company.”

Sokol Lika agrees. “We were very happy – all parties were happy with the service – not just us but the client, who was delighted with the end product including all the Wandsworth accessories. Since OWO we have started working together on other projects – that experience gave us confidence to work with Wandsworth again.”