Somerset House
London
Donald Insall Associates was lead architect for the second phase of works at Somerset House, involving major refurbishment of the south building. These included a new gallery displaying works from the Hermitage in St Petersburg. The restored Seamen’s Hall serves as the hub connecting the courtyard with the river terrace overlooking the Thames. The courtyard, repaved with granite setts, is enhanced by 55 fountains lit by fibre-optic lights. Specially designed crowd control barriers and underground lavatories accommodating 3,500 people give the chamber’s reunified courtyard a new use as a unique public venue in Central London.