The Whiteley | Foster + Partners

Developed by Valouran and joint investor, MARK and C C Land, the mixed-use scheme enhances the existing neighbourhood by bringing together a diverse range of uses – including retail, restaurants, leisure, hotel and residences – breathing new life into this iconic London locale.

The Grade II listed building opened in 1911 as one of London’s first retail department stores. Originally designed by John Belcher and John James Joass, the building underwent several iterative repairs and changes throughout the 20th century which disrupted the clarity of the original building’s design. The practice’s restoration has re-established the building’s architectural logic and character.

The façade has been sympathetically restored to its former splendour – featuring infills on the upper floors that match its original and a re-modelled cupola on the building’s northern edge, which has realised an unfulfilled element of the building’s initial design. It also introduces a newly integrated retail arcade along the Queensway Parade.

Several other key elements of the historic building have been restored by the practice, including its clocktower and glass dome, as well as the preservation and relocation of its original entrance screen, statues, and heritage staircase. This scheme creates a balanced, harmonious composition that celebrates the building’s history and architectural significance, while responding to the current and future needs of residents and visitors alike.

The scheme incorporates 139 unique residential apartments on its upper floors. The interior design takes inspiration from the original heritage building’s grain, texture, and rhythm. The generously proportioned lateral apartments, with tall ceiling heights, create a distinct sense of light and space. Attention to detail and a palette of complementary natural materials provide a feeling of timelessness – and sun-filled landscaped terraces offer views out over London.

The retrofit project also enhances the wider historic fabric by embedding a diverse mixture of uses, significantly contributing to the public realm. This actively animates the public spaces through a variety of leisure, retail, and hospitality experiences, with active frontages that face out to the street. This public realm activation is supported by a new courtyard, which draws both natural light and people into the development – and underpins The Whiteley as the heart of the wider Bayswater neighbourhood.

The project has been designed to achieve a BREEAM rating of ‘Excellent’, demonstrating its exemplary standards of sustainable and inclusive urban design and architecture.

Credits

Client: Whiteley Devco Ltd, Valouran, C C Land, MARK

Architect: Foster + Partners

Foster + Partners Team

Norman Foster

Nigel Dancey

Patrick Campbell

Carlos Sole-Bravo

Catherine Thiemann

Annamaria Anderloni

Luis Fuentes Arambula

Russell Hales

Jose Antonio Garcia Ares

Yuan Hsin-Lo

Ivan Kaye Puertos

Verena Von Strempel

Agata Klein

Gabriella Lucci

Jose Garcia Alamar

Vania Coelho Dos Santos

Daniel Morales Valle

Yanni Hajigeorgis

Jose Berg Aldoney

Mui Ching Koh

Laura Gonzales Arribas

Giulio Castoldi

Jamie Mann

Joseph Malonda

Nina Pari

Christian Kennedy

Richard Kennedy

Blerina Celniku

Lisa Gustavsson

Ola Urbanska

Alessia Girardi

Giulia Pasculli

Pier Rapana

Mircea Branzeanu

Sean Bailey

Gulnaz Tugba Ozbay

Chris Johnstone

Danilo Sampaio

Eva Palacios Berengena

Gabia Gulbinaite

Paloma Ramos Domingo

Yilin Yao

Agnieszka Zych-Twaddell

Cristina Martin Gonzalez

Facts and Figures

2015 - 2026

- Location: London, United Kingdom

- Appointment: 2015

- Construction Start: 2018

- Project Completion: 2026

- Gross External Area: 105,734m²

- Net Internal Area: 87,381m²

- Site Area: 13,972m²

- Height: 40m

- Length: 163m

- Width: 138m

- Number of Buildings: 1

- Number of Storeys: 14 storeys above grade

- Number of Basements: 3

- Number of Apartments: 139 residences including 14 Six Senses branded residences

- Building Capacity: 7,771

Amenities

The Whiteley

Newly accessible public courtyard

- Sports hall with padel, tennis, basketball, volleyball and badminton

- Children’s playroom

- Music room

- Residents’ reception and library

- 19 retail tenants including Everyman Cinema, Third Space, Guillam Coffee House, Nela and 3812 Gallery

Six Senses

Wellness hotel and spa (109 rooms)

- 11 treatment and consultation rooms

- 20m indoor swimming pool

- Gym

- All-day dining restaurant with indoor and outdoor seating

- Alchemy bar

Six Senses Place members’ club

Restaurant

- Co-working spaces and meeting rooms

- Wellness room

Sustainability

BREEAM Rating: Excellent Energy & Carbon

- The design incorporates biofuel Combined Heat & Power (CHP) systems to deliver low-carbon heat and power across the development.

Mobility & Connectivity

- The site has a Public Transport Accessibility Level of 6A (within the best level for connectivity) according to Transport for London.

- The design also includes a pedestrian connection to Hyde Park.

Water

- Site wide integrated water management strategy including rainwater harvesting, grey water recycling and flood control systems.

- The development is protected by a new flood barrier in the northwest corner, which has been historically vulnerable to flood risk.

Land & Ecology

- The project retains the original building footprint while extending both vertically and below ground to make more efficient use of the site.

- Terraces are incorporated across multiple levels, many of which are designed as green, irrigated roofs with a diverse range of planting to enhance biodiversity.

Culture & Heritage

- The building’s original heritage features, such as the cupola, are carefully preserved and restored to maintain its architectural character.

- The clock tower has been restored, including a new clock designed in line with the original intent.

- New flagpoles have been added to reinforce its landmark presence.

- Existing balustrades are recycled and re-cast, keeping the original material while improving safety and compliance.

- Main entrances are refurbished using durable, slipresistant materials.

- New finishes match the original design patterns while meeting modern safety standards.

Main Materials

- Pre-cast concrete cladding (columns, cornices, copings).

- Slate rainscreen cladding.

- Portland stone facades (1912 – 1925) have been carefully restored.

Structural System

- The design uses a mix of reinforced concrete and steel elements.

- Post-tensioned (PT) slabs are used to create longer spans and thinner floor plates, improving space efficiency.