In the heart of Mayfair, one of London’s most exclusive districts, the UK team at Gebrüder Schneider installed the facade systems for the prestigious conversion of the listed former US Embassy into the 5-star The Chancery Rosewood hotel. The project at Grosvenor Square placed the highest demands on materials and workmanship, as the lead architects, David Chipperfield Architects, had set themselves ambitious goals with the luxurious redesign and the BREEAM Outstanding certification. 

Modernism in dialogue with Georgian style. With its mid-century architectural style and Theodore Roszak’s gilded eagle sculpture—which, with an impressive wingspan of over 11 metres, towers above the main entrance at the edge of the roof—the embassy building stood as a symbol of the close ties between the US and the UK after the Second World War. The Finnish-American architect Eero Saarinen deliberately designed the striking Portland stone facades in keeping with the Georgian-style buildings on Grosvenor Square

Luxury above the rooftops of London. Gebrüder Schneider manufactured and installed the facade systems for two key construction elements: the ground floor zone, which opens the building up to the city, and two upper storeys. The sixth floor forms the new crown of the building in Saarinen’s design language; above this is a recessed penthouse floor with premium suites and the rooftop bar, offering sweeping views of Grosvenor Square and Hyde Park.

Gebrüder Schneider supplied 736 m² of gold-anodised aluminium panel cladding for the penthouse, which not only echoes the existing colour scheme but also complements the restored golden eagle on the roof edge. On the ground floor and top floor, 2,035 m² of aluminium mullion-transom facades were installed.

As part of the additional work, the team carried out a professional and careful renovation of the historic metal curtain walls, taking into account heritage conservation requirements. Furthermore, the scope of work included the precise installation of two sectional doors, plant grilles and bespoke glazed rooflight, including all necessary connections, fixings and detailing.