No.1 Marylebone Road NW1

This important church, Holy Trinity, by Sir John Soane, listed II*, was declared redundant in 1956 when it became the headquarters of the Society for the Promotion of Christian Knowledge; Penguin Books started life in the crypt in the twenties. An important landmark, it is set on an island site near Regent's Park and is in sound condition.

However the interior was long ago partitioned-up for retail and ancillary office and storage uses and needs to find a future capable of enjoying its original spatial splendour. The crypt in particular is dramatic and deserves to be enjoyed. An interesting retail concept for its future use is explained below.

BWCP is retained to lead on the implementation of the concept, the listed building, architectural and planning approvals. The design team is Alan Baxter Associates [engineers], Kim Wilkie Associates [urban design and landscape], The Architectural History Practice [conservation appraisal], Wilson Stephens Associates [historic fabric], E+M Tecnica [services].

PLANNING AND LISTED BUILDING APPLICATIONS WERE MADE IN JUNE 2007 and withdrawn to allow extra time for review in October. They incorporate changes resulting from consultations.

A recent slide presentation with additional material may be downloaded here: ...ppt. Reactions have been wide ranging with general support – some of it demanding a bolder, more modern approach to the idea of building on the roof, mainly from local amenity groups and residents; more reserved or negative reactions from the SJS Museum and English Heritage. Most of the outstanding issues can be resolved but the principle of establishing a visible change in the proportion of Soane's intended clerestory structure is controversial and too challenging for some. Watch this space!

EXHIBITION, PUBLIC MEETING & TOURS OF THE BUILDING
Monday 26 February from 5.30pm:
tours: in small groups between 5.30 and 6.30pm. Please email* to book suggesting your preferred time of 5.30/5.45/6.00/6.15pm
exhibition of proposals continues in office hours until 5.30pm Thursday 29th February. Please email* to advise your anticipated time of arrival.

Please use the comment book or email your comments and suggestions by Monday 5th March: *mailto:brian@bwcp.co.uk

Public meeting starts 6.45pm with brief presentation on the history of the building, its structure and ideas for its restoration in a new use, followed by discussion.
We have opened consultations with English Heritage and Westminster City and have presented preliminary proposals to the St Marylebone Society and the Sir John Soane Museum curators. Thanks to the St Marylebone Society for assisting with organising the meeting.

Presentations prepared for the public meeting are downloadable as a Powerpoint slideshow: just click here! – they are large files: BWCP context, history, proposals drawings and images; Kim Wilkie's proposals for the setting of the building and restoration of the railings; Alan Baxter's structural research.

A planning and listed building application is in preparation for submission by the end of March. An application for interim uses pending the development and restoration is under consideration.

PROPOSALS
According to Sir Terry Farrell, Marylebone Road has the potential to be one of London’s greatest assets, by reinforcing it’s identity with vibrant street life and attractive landscaping as part of the Mayor’s 100 Public Spaces programme. Holy Trinity Church at 1 Marylebone Road, designed by John Soane in 1818 to celebrate the defeat of Napoleon, is a prominent Marylebone landmark. Unfortunately for the local community, the church fell victim to unsympathetic restoration in the 1950s and 60s and the space around it is currently a mishmash of bad railings, broken pavement, parking and unattractive traffic signage.
George Hammer and Urban Retreat Ventures are now working with architects and historic building experts led by architect Brian Waters of BWCP whose team includes Kim Wilkie, a leading British landscape architect renowned for his work at the Victoria and Albert museum and Hyde Park Corner, to revive and enhance the grand simplicity of Soane’s original design. In the Victorian era churches were not just places of worship but also hives of community activity; recreating this depends as much on the success of the outside space as the inside.
Imaginative, sympathetic restoration will ensure that One Marylebone Road is reborn as an architectural island jewel in the centre of London. The setting of the church will be enhanced by reconfiguring the pavement and adding new hedges, railings and lanterns at the perimeter and providing valet parking in place of today’s sea of parked cars. The existing trees will be up-lit to transform One Marylebone Road into an enchanted garden. A sculpture garden with bustling boulevard-style café, weekly farmers markets and a boules area will provide appealing spaces for neighbours and visitors alike to linger and enjoy.

PRECEDENTS
While New York has cult store Jeffrey, Rome has Tad, Paris has Colette and Milan has 10 Corso Como, London has long been lacking an inspiring, luxury retail destination.
One Marylebone Road will develop the ideas of these iconic stores to be an eclectic collection of exceptional fashion, beauty, art and design that meets rigorous standards of innovation, exclusivity and creative flair. Although luxury will be paramount, conventional brands will not be included unless they offer something with a genuine point of difference and the store will be as much about education and aspiration as it is about retailing.
Baccarat, manufacturers of the worlds finest crystal, plan to open a restaurant on the roof where diners will drink from crystal goblets under the light of Baccarat crystal chandeliers, as they do in the Baccarat Cristal Room in Paris.
Mr. Hammer is no stranger to unique and innovative retail spaces, having opened a number of groundbreaking ventures over the years. The Sanctuary in Covent Garden was the first day spa in the world when it opened in 1980. Previously a disused Post Office in Marylebone, the original Aveda Concept Store was the first to combine beauty retail, an organic café and a flower shop in a complete lifestyle experience.
The subsequent Aveda Concept Store in High Holborn set a new standard in hair and beauty salons and was voted ‘Best New Store in London’ by Time Out readers, while the Urban Retreat at Harrods offers an incomparable range of retail, hair and beauty services over 20,000 square feet on the top floor.
The latest venture at One Marylebone will be the masterpiece in a portfolio of luxury retail destinations.

NOTE: The following images and plans were first presented to the St Marylebone Society last November; the latest versions are on the downloadable Powerpoint slideshows (see above).

Our design development model showing the main Soane interior re-established and opened to daylight again:
PLANS:
crypt, mezzanine, ground, gallery and roof. Yellow tint is retail and ancillary uses:

John Soane's intended rooftop clerestory structure reinterpreted to provide a fine small restaurant:

Suggestions and comments please emailto:HolyTrinity@bwcp.co.uk