196A is situated on the south side of Piccadilly within the St James’s Conservation Area and forms part of Westminster City Council’s freehold investment portfolio. The property was originally a banking hall designed by Sir Edwin Lutyens in the early 1920’s and is now Grade II* Listed. However, the building’s integrity has been severely compromised by a number of additions, installed in the last ten years to facilitate modern banking practises. Hugh Petter of Robert Adam Architects was therefore been employed as a Historic Building Consultant, developing proposals to restore the property to its intended layout as conceived in the 1920s.

The reconfiguration of the interior will particularly focus on the ‘American Room’ on the first floor of the property, which has been severely altered in the past. The original walnut and limed oak panelled walls will be reinstated, restoring the original plan and the intended sense of scale to this important interior.

Additionally, the proposed works will remove modern additions that are unsympathetic to the historic fabric and reinstate integral parts of the building’s design. The original bank counters, currently disfigured by a modern metal and glass security screen, will be carefully restored. All materials used will be chosen to match the surrounding original material, ensuring that the high quality of the design and finish is preserved in this sensitive location.