London-based David Chipperfield Architects has successfully converted the former US Embassy building in London's prestigious Mayfair district into a luxury hotel called The Rosewood Chancery. The mid-century modern building, originally designed by renowned architect Eero Saarinen in 1960, served as the US Embassy until 2017 and has now been transformed into what architects describe as a "palace on the park."
Located at 30 Grosvenor Square in west London, the historic building underwent extensive restoration and adaptive reuse under the direction of David Chipperfield Architects. The firm led the overall restoration and spatial planning of the interiors, while French architect Joseph Dirand designed the hotel's suites and communal spaces. The collaboration aimed to honor Saarinen's original vision while creating a world-class hospitality destination.
As part of the exterior transformation, David Chipperfield Architects removed all external security measures that had been installed during the building's time as an embassy. The team also eliminated the original sloped concrete landscaping around the building's base to create a more welcoming and accessible entrance. New landscaping was added in front of the ground floor, which now houses restaurant, bar, and retail spaces that open directly onto Grosvenor Square.
The building's layout includes retail spaces, a ballroom, spa facilities, and parking on the basement level, while the first floor serves as the main public area of The Rosewood Chancery. David Chipperfield Architects worked to restore Saarinen's original design intent by removing partitions and modifications that had been added over the years to create smaller office spaces. This restoration revealed the building's stunning exposed concrete diagrid ceiling, which can now be viewed in its full glory.
The first floor has been designed as a grand piano nobile – the main floor of a palazzo – featuring reception areas, restaurants, a bar, lounges, and other communal spaces enhanced with wooden paneling and marble tables for a tactile, luxurious feel. Above this level, the architects added a central atrium around which the upper floors were largely rebuilt behind the existing facade, maintaining the building's historic exterior while completely modernizing the interior spaces.
A significant architectural enhancement involved extending the building's sixth floor with increased floor-to-ceiling heights to create a distinctive crown for the structure. According to David Chipperfield Architects, this design decision was inspired by an early proposal from Saarinen himself that suggested a similar approach. The sixth floor now houses premium suites in a setback pavilion, complete with additional public facilities and terrace views overlooking Grosvenor Square.
The restoration project also included the careful preservation of historical elements, most notably a gilded eagle sculpture created by artist Theodore Roszak. This iconic piece has been restored and returned to its original position at the top of the building, maintaining an important connection to the structure's diplomatic heritage. The team also restored the building's Portland stone window surrounds as part of their commitment to preserving the architectural integrity of Saarinen's design.
In terms of sustainability, The Rosewood Chancery is set to become the UK's first five-star hotel to receive a BREEAM Outstanding rating. This achievement comes after the building's envelope was significantly upgraded to meet what the architects describe as "ambitious sustainability targets," demonstrating how historic preservation can align with modern environmental standards.
The Rosewood Chancery represents another significant project in David Chipperfield Architects' portfolio, which includes recent works such as a contemporary art museum in Slovenia and a social housing development in Lyon, France. The transformation of this iconic Saarinen-designed building showcases how thoughtful adaptive reuse can breathe new life into architecturally significant structures while respecting their original design intent and historical importance.
