Two show units inside the revamped British landmark are up for grabs.
After much anticipation, London’s former Old War Office building in Whitehall reopened as Europe’s first Raffles hotel property and private residences last September. Now, two show units inside the branded development have hit the market.
The new Raffles London at the OWO took six years and more than $1.2 billion to complete. The landmarked, Grade II-listed structure was originally built for the British Army and famously served as Winston Churchill’s office during WWII. Plus, the historic property had cameos in five Bond flicks and an appearance in Netflix’s The Crown.
The residential component, known as the OWO Residences by Raffles, includes 85 private homes ranging from studios to penthouses, turret residences, and Heritage Suites. Every unit is completely unique in its design and layout. “We’ve sold just under half of the building already,” Charlie Walsh, head of residential sales at The OWO, tells Robb Report. “Each apartment is like a one-of-one.”
The OWO recently unveiled two completed show residences, both of which are available to purchase fully furnished—meaning you’ll find art hanging on the walls, cutlery in the drawers, and sheets on the bed. Residence 4.04—the larger, more contemporary home—is a sprawling 2,500-square-foot duplex kitted out by London’s RJP Design. Altogether, the digs comprise three bedrooms, plus a private outdoor terrace.
Residence 3.05, on the other hand, was designed by UK firm Albion Nord and offers a more classic, old-English country feel. Think lots of antique pieces and rich colors that mirror the heritage of the British building. Speaking of which, one of the highlights is a stunning grand entrance hallway that harks back to The OWO’s storied past.
“When we bought the building, we inherited two-and-a-half miles of this incredible historic corridor, which is about two meters wide (about six feet),” Walsh explained. “And it was that size because, during the war, you’d have mail trolleys and people running around delivering messages and telegrams. So, what we’ve done is we’ve incorporated some of these incredible corridors into the actual apartments.”
Clocking in at 2,000 square feet, the dwelling is slightly smaller and has only two bedrooms. By no means does the unit feel cramped, though. “The average two-bed size in London is about 900 square feet,” Walsh says. “This is more than double.” Of course, residents will also have access to a slew of perks including 24-hour concierge service, private in-room dining, a 16-seat screening room, a boardroom, and fitness facilities. Plus, the 120-key Raffles hotel has nine on-site restaurants, three bars, and London’s first Guerlain-branded spa.
“We’ve created 30,000 square feet of amenities which are solely dedicated to residents,” Walsh explains. “Most developments that have a hotel and residential component share all the amenities. Here, we deliberately kept them separate, so you will not see another member of the public or a hotel guest.” The only thing that is shared is the 65-foot-long swimming pool.
“We’re very fortunate because it’s a Raffles-branded residence; the Raffles brand stands for hospitality,” Walsh says. “It’s in their DNA. They’ve done it for over 100 years now, starting in Singapore. They’re very good at looking after people, at curating incredible communities and facilities, and almost creating a private member’s club scenario for residents, which I think has been really appealing for buyers.”
