WD Caroe’s splendid facade to 55-91 Knightsbridge, stretching 120 metres from Wilton Place to William Street, fully justifies its Grade Two listing. However, since its completion in 1905, the building – originally St George’s Place – has experienced a series of reversals.
When it first opened, the mansion block enjoyed an unencumbered prospect of Hyde Park, but development opposite soon came to block the view. Then, over the next half century, Knightsbridge was transformed from modest high street into major traffic artery. The combination of these various developments, together with its north-facing principal elevation, resulted in the building’s gradual decline.
In redeveloping the building with residential, office and retail space, our first decision was to retain Caroe’s facade which, when repaired and refreshed, will become an architectural celebrity, perhaps prompting passers-by to wonder where it has come from. Our second decision was to reverse the section so as to allow the new living rooms to benefit from the view south towards Belgrave Square, and the quietude of Kinnerton Street and its mews. Bedrooms, kitchens and secondary rooms would then occupy the once-important north elevation.
Although Caroe’s symmetrical facade might suggest a typical mansion apartment arrangement behind, the original occupation was quite different and more akin to terraced house. The original mixed-use of retail on the ground floor was reintroduced, commercial offices on the first and second floors, and residential above, but with a difference – the reinterpreted of Caroe’s elevation.
The commercial offices now have a single entrance related to the central pavilion. Two residential entrances are then related to the pavilions at either end, accessed from Wilton Place and William Street respectively. It could be said that 55-91 Knightsbridge has finally acquired the plan its facade had always anticipated.