Architecture Today Highlights Our Transformation of Carlton House Terrace

Wright & Wright Architects has completed a major refurbishment of the British Academy’s headquarters on The Mall in central London. The project has transformed the lower floors of the Grade I listed building into a digitally-enabled destination for events and public engagement with humanities and social sciences research. Designed by John Nash, the British Academy’s home at 10-11 Carlton House Terrace was originally conceived as a pair of palatial townhouses. It was later occupied by Prime Minister William Gladstone, before serving as a hospital for injured officers during World War I. It has been the headquarters of the British Academy since 1998.

The building’s historic and imposing character creates a tension between the British Academy’s physical setting and its contemporary role as a forward-facing organisation. This was a conundrum faced by Wright & Wright: how to work with the building’s extraordinary heritage spaces in a way that enables the organisation to fulfil its global potential and achieve a reach far beyond leafy St James’s.

“We found the brief as rich and inspiring as they come – to create a forum for public convening and international exchange, fit for the digital age,” said Stephen Smith, Partner at Wright & Wright. “We have sought to uncover lost layers of architectural language, while discreetly and respectfully inserting some of our own; adding to the many chapters of architectural legacies that have been recorded over the centuries at Carlton House Terrace.”

The architect’s transformation of the lower floors complements the existing heritage spaces on the upper levels – which together will play host to a newly reimagined and ambitious seasonal programme of public talks, debates, exhibitions and events. Historically the lower floors were – prior to the Academy’s occupancy – used for servants and staff, and later became storage and office space. Unburdened by the significant heritage constraints of the upper levels, Wright & Wright removed mezzanine floors and vaults, before digging down and carving out three new double-height and light-filled spaces. These add 469-square-metres of usable area, increasing public event capacity by almost 50 per cent.

Generous lightwells bring daylight deep into the plan, and form part of a passive environmental strategy that harnesses the spaces’ position below ground to retain heat in winter and avoid summer overheating. Sustainability is central to the redesign, with the project team navigating demanding heritage constraints in order to address environmental performance. This included a comprehensive overhaul of the building envelope that has seen the first use of double-glazing in a Grade I listed setting within The Crown Estate.

While the scale of the new interconnected spaces matches those on the upper floors, there is a striking and deliberate contrast with the well-preserved historic rooms – informed by the architects exhaustive research into the history of the building and careful judgements regarding appropriate changes. The new spaces have a looser, more contemporary feel, providing the organisation with a flexible backdrop for new modes of presentation, display and networking. A materials palette that includes timber and stone provides robustness and a sense of grandeur that echoes the historic spaces above.

The scheme also includes a remodelled and refurbished reception area, as well as two new rooms for the Academy’s Fellows, enabling more opportunities for them to work, study and meet at the Academy. The flexibility of the new spaces provides a backdrop for new modes of presentation, and inviting rooms that can be easily equipped for agile events and programming. Bespoke AV systems are designed to serve ‘an academy without walls’ and engage with new audiences around the world. Furthermore, the new spaces enable the British Academy to showcase more of its unique collection of contemporary British art, including works by Hew Locke, Paula Rego and Yinka Shonibare.