In a Hotel Designs exclusive, we take a look at how Dernier & Hamlyn have utilised its broad range of skills to recreate historic lighting for Raffles London at The OWO…
Bespoke British lighting specialists Dernier & Hamlyn used archive photography taken in the building before WWII to recreate beautiful George IV chandeliers for Raffles London, at The OWO’s grand Churchill suite for The Office of Thierry Despont.
Image credit: EPR Architects / Raffles London
Formerly the Army Council Room, this 190square metre, two-bedroom suite is where critical decisions were made by Britain’s top military leaders during the Second World War. It is a truly exceptional suite that features rich wood panelling, grand fireplaces, floor-to-ceiling windows offering views over Horse Guards Avenue and two stunning brass chandeliers produced by artisans in Dernier & Hamlyn’s factory.
Utilising the company’s 135 years of producing bespoke lighting for hotels, luxury residences, heritage buildings and superyachts, Dernier & Hamlyn’s design team used the 80-year-old image to create sketches to present their ideas. Once approved these were worked up to high quality rendered images to enable the client to further appreciate the design and high-quality workmanship that Dernier & Hamlyn would deliver.
Image credit: EPR Architects / Raffles London
“It was an honour to be involved in the transformation of the Grade-II listed OWO and to help it to develop from a vitally important Government building to a destination venue in the heart of the capital,” commented Michael Mulhall, Director, Dernier & Hamlyn.
Cast in solid brass, the chandeliers are almost two metres high and two metres wide. Each has 12 intricately detailed arms and 24 candle-lights. A solid brass decorative urn forms the centre piece of this work of lighting art adorned with acanthus leaf finials to echo the heritage features on the ceiling of this grand room and ensure period appropriateness.
The Dernier & Hamlyn team employed a combination of traditional engineering and metalworking skills alongside the latest technology to create these stunning chandeliers. This included 3D printing patterns of the decorative features for casting the brass and a variety of welding techniques to achieve the very highest quality finishes.
Due to the size of these magnificent chandeliers, the installation team had to assemble them on site as they were too large to fit through the Churchill suite’s doors. Once assembled the team installed them to the five metre high ceiling of their forever home!
> Since you’re here, why not read our exclusive sneak peek inside Rafffles London at The OWO, and join our editor as he explores the Dernier & Hamlyn factory?
 Dernier & Hamlyn is one of our Recommended Suppliers and regularly features in our Supplier News section of the website. If you are interested in becoming one of our Recommended Suppliers, please email Katy Phillips.
Main image credit: EPR Architects / Raffles London
