BAFTA
Interested by my Brentford sketch journal BAFTA (British Academy of Film and Television Arts) invited me to do the same for the radical and thorough two year refurbishment of their building at 195 Piccadilly. Formerly the home of The Royal Society of Painters in Watercolours. They asked me as BAFTA put it: ‘In honour of this legacy’. I’ll be visiting once a month providing in-situ sketches for the regular Newsletter going to their many ’stakeholders’.
They have formed a new public café and exhibition space and Members Room next door at 194 – But for now its stripping out and scaffolding.
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They have formed a new public café and exhibition space and Members Room next door at 194 – But for now its stripping out and scaffolding.
Click on individual images to enlarge and view full screen.
December 2019 - the scaffolding is complete including 3 containers hanging over Piccadilly and the stripping out almost all done...
January 2020 - The building is now virtually empty save for a mass of scaffolding - wall to wall/floor to floor; and a temporary floor giving eye level access to the lantern friezes and corbels. Outside I've been eye to eye with the old master water colourists too.
February 2020 - A huge tent has ben erected over the building; inside a scaffolding 'cage' is being formed for the new roof extension. Meanwhile the lanterns are being dismantled and other parts taken off. A hive of activity. Safety harnesses and lanyards very much in place. Access up there is now by an iron staircase on the front from which close views of more of the stone detailing.
March 2020 - Travel being restricted access to the site was impractical, and now work has been suspended. The majority of the internal demolition has been finished and much of the roof removed ready for work to restart. Thus a 'Story so far' compilation/punctuation mark.
May 2021 - After only a minor Covid break the major remodelling of 195 Piccadilly is on programme for completion this Autumn. It is good to be able to return for a few hours sketching...initially some quickies and one for their June Newsletter.
May 2021 - February 2022 - Knight Harwood finished on time. There followed a few months of 'snagging', fitting out and commissioning for re-opening or 'soft launch' in October 2022.
November 2021 - January 2022 - With the reordering and extending all done, snagged, finished and commissioned I was asked to do some sketch paintings of the front and the eight named rooms. This let me continue for another 3 visits and see the building, especially the top floor Members' or Richard Attenborough Rooms in use.