Issue 39 Sept 23 - Journal - Page 10
Hanover Retained Facades
Restoration has been restoring buildings for many decades, and during the course of that time
has worked on some of the most iconic and historic buildings, and it is always a privilege to do
Szerelmey Restoration has been restoring buildings for
many decades, and during the course of that time has
worked on some of the most iconic and historic buildings,
and it is always a privilege to do so. There are always
“stand out” projects that have a special place for the
company, the interior restoration of Battersea Power
Station was one, (featured in a previous edition), and
another was the restoration of seven facades along one of
London’s most famous shopping streets. The works,
undertaken for Great Portland Estates plc on behalf of
The GHS Limited Partnership (a 50/50 joint venture with
the Hong Kong Monetary Authority) included the
restoration of seven historic retained facades along New
Bond Street and Brook Street as well as an iconic Grade
II* listed property on Hanover Square; the first home of
the Royal Society of Medicine. Given the scale of the
project and the number of different styles of facades, the
scope of works was extremely varied. The works involved
carefully cleaning each facade using a combination of
nebulous, steam and gentle abrasion cleaning techniques
as well as isolated areas of poultice application to remove
areas of engrained staining. Following completion of the
cleaning an extensive survey was carried out on each
façade and a repair schedule drawn up.
Areas of the stonework, particularly the more ornamental
areas along New Bond Street and Brook Street were badly
eroded or damaged and needed replacing. Some damage
was as a result of corroding support steels that were buried
within the stonework. In these instances, the stones were
carefully removed, individually itemized and stored. The
steel work was then cleaned and treated with a protective
coating. Following the approval of carefully selected stone
ranges for each property, the defective areas of stone were
carefully surveyed, and detailed drawings produced to
enable the production of new carved stone units to match
the originals. The stonework, including the original and
replacement units were then reinstated incorporating the
introduction of bespoke, in house designed stainless steel
bracketry and restraints.
Further extensive masonry works were carried out at the
70 and 71 New Bond Street facades involving the reconfiguration of the fabric including the support frame. This
work unified the floor plates of the two buildings allowing
the architecture to read as a collection rather than
individual units. This involved extensive temporary works
Below, 64 New Bond Street on corner
