Morey Smith styles RCS extension

The Royal Commonwealth Society has unveiled design concepts for the 1000m2 extension to its Commonwealth Club premises in London, following the appointment of multidisciplinary group MoreySmith in June 2004.

The consultancy, selected following a four-way pitch, also created the interior designs for a refurbishment of the club in 1998. According to principal director Linda Morey Smith, the extension will be an evolution of this work on the original club.

The RCS has acquired the club’s adjoining premises at 25 Northumberland Avenue, providing ground, lower ground and mezzanine floors. The building will accommodate a range of facilities, including a lounge bar, the Commonwealth business centre, a 200-seat auditorium and conference facilities. The society’s offices will also move into the new extension.

Alex Haighton, development manager at the RCS, says that elements of the modern style that were adopted in the previous refurbishment will be carried over to the extension. ‘We wanted a modern, contemporary club that reflects the world at large and sheds the image of a crusty, old Empire institution. The extension will continue this, with brighter, primary colours,’ she says.

According to Morey Smith, ‘We intend to include displays of artefacts from the RCS and crafted design features which reflect historic connections, as well as projecting the image of a modern organisation.’

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