Issue 37 Spring 23 WEB - Flipbook - Page 67
The new owners of the Hippodrome plan to reopen the
venue in November 2024 after the current extensive
renovation.
“Our award winning expertise in heritage plaster restoration is being called upon within the hotel development
through the manufacture and installation of newto-match existing fibrous plaster cornice. This includes
mould manufacture and on-site repairs to existing cornice
and ceilings.
It was built at the end of the 19th century as an ice rink,
converted in 1901 to a circus and later redesigned as a
theatre. It closed in 1964, reopened as a bingo hall three
years later and closed again in 2006.
“Our involvement also includes the manufacture and
installation of new fibrous plaster lighting troughs and step
profiles, fibrous plaster ceiling centre panels and providing
heritage plaster restoration and lime plastering works.”
And another historic building to benefit from the
exceptional talents of traditional plasterers is the Old War
Office site in London’s Whitehall.
For more information about Artisan Plastercraft or to see
the specialisms they cover visit their website
www.artisanplastercraft.com.
Artisan, which has built up an impressive reputation over
the last 25 years, has helped to restore and convert
the building into a 125-room Raffles hotel, and 85 private
residences ranging from studios to five-bedroom
apartments.
The former Ministry of Defence building was completed
in 1906, originally had 1,100 rooms and was used as a
headquarters by Winston Churchill in World War ll.
The building was acquired in 2016 by the Hinduja Group
and Obrascón Huarte Lain Desarrollos.
Mr Arney said: “ We are delighted to be involved, it’s
a massive project which includes constructing a
three-storey roof extension and developing a six-storey
basement.
“We are responsible for the manufacture and installation
of fibrous plaster works and are also providing surveys of
the extensive areas of heritage plasterwork throughout
the complex.
Above, OWO hallway cornice moulding.
Below, stairway glass dome and ornamental ceiling
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Conservation & Heritage Journal
65