Bespoke art in a heritage setting

Accountants Hall – The Heritage Rooms

To restore and enhance

The Grade II*-listed headquarters of the Institute of Chartered Accountants in England and Wales, one of London’s most exuberant Arts and Crafts Baroque buildings, has been restored and enhanced through two phases of conservation work.

Initially completed in 1893 to the designs of John Belcher, the external decorative frieze records the subjects of interest to the accountants at the time – Science, Arts, Commerce, Manufacture and Shipping. The building we see today was extended in two later phases, the first a sympathetic addition in the late 1920s by Belcher’s student JJ Joass and a more dramatic second one in the late 1960s by William Whitfield.

The project involved a full renovation and re-presentation of the former Council Chamber and Member’s Library. Phase 1 consisted of roof repairs and the replacement of the outer-glazed lantern of the dome. Phase 2 saw the refurbishment of the two principal reception rooms, including new fitted joinery, a new lighting scheme and full redecoration. Analysis of the historic paint finishes informed the selection of the new colour scheme and the original murals were cleaned by specialist conservators.

Let the light shine

Critical to the renewal of the Member’s Room was installing a bespoke stained glass artwork by Alexander Beleschenko at the room’s east end. The artwork was sensitively installed within three niches, formerly windows, blocked when another wing was built in 1966. These blocked windows were utilised as a focal point for the refurbishment and to bring light back into the space by backlighting the art.

The colour temperature and intensity of the backlighting are controllable via large flat lighting panels, allowing the lighting to be adjusted depending on the activities in the room. The panels were designed to compliment the structural design of the frame – a substantial frame was required as each of the three installations is almost four metres high.

The completed artwork provides an evocative backdrop to the Members Room. The contemporary design references the historic elements throughout the room and the building, enhancing their historical significance. It provides a delicate counterbalance to the French-polished bespoke joinery installed at the gallery level and the delicately cleaned Portland Stone columns.

Colourful stained glass windows inside Chartered Accountant's Hall Member's Room.
Colourful stained glass window and clock inside Chartered Accountant's Hall Member's Room.

Project Team

Project specs

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