New Zealand House refurb, 20C Haymarket London building photos, Modern British architecture project

New Zealand House London

Haymarket Development Redevelopmentdesign by Robert Matthew architect, England, UK

post updated 16 February 2024

Location: 80 Haymarket, St. James’s, London SW1Y 4TQ, United Kingdom

Renewal Architect: Lifschutz Davidson Sandilands (LDS)

Royal Opera Arcade heritage architect: Donald Insall Associates

19 October 2019

New Zealand House Renewal

Lifschutz Davidson Sandilands has submitted upgrade plans for this major Modernist building in central London.

The refurbishment scheme is for the high commission (1963) and the adjacent Grade I arcade.

image courtesy of architects

Lifschutz Davidson Sandilands has worked up proposals to comprehensively update the landmark modernist building New Zealand House on London’s Haymarket.

The building was listed at Grade II in 1995, in recognition of its “elegant tower and podium composition”, characterised by plate glass strip windows and pronounced Portland stone bands and interior quality.

photograph © Adrian Welch

The 19-storey building is owned by the Crown Estate and houses the New Zealand High Commission.

Under plans lodged with Westminster council, the block would be upgraded and reconfigured to deliver a mix of office accommodation, diplomatic space and new ground-floor retail and restaurant space.

photos © Adrian Welch

The proposals would also rework parts of the adjoining Grade I-listed Royal Opera Arcade, designed by Thomas Nash and GS Repton, from 1818.

The LDS proposals led by Paul Sandilands involve internal reconfigurations to New Zealand House that would create separate entrances for high commission use and a new entrance for office tenants in the building that would be accessed via Pall Mall.

Royal Opera Arcade London renewal by Donald Insall Associates:

image courtesy of architects

The four-storey podium and 15-storey tower was “always too large” for the New Zealand government’s requirements and a “significant proportion” of the existing building has been sublet to commercial tenants since its completion.

This refurbishment allows reinforcement of the New Zealand government identity in the building whilst re-purposing areas that are not required.

photo © Nick Weall

As well as re-glazing the structure, the work would include creating a new diplomatic residence on the 17th floor, reconfiguring the 18th-floor southern terrace with an extended glazed function area, and relocating some existing features.

Outside New Zealand House, the LDS scheme would create a new entrance for the Royal Opera Arcade from Pall Mall, deliver the repair and refurbishment of original shopfronts, and convert 20th-century mezzanine floors into office space, reconnecting them to New Zealand House.

photo © Adrian Welch

Donald Insall Associates is heritage architect for the Royal Opera Arcade proposals.

page updated 25 Jun 2014

New Zealand House

Location: Haymarket, London SW1, UK
Dates built: 1960-63
Architect: Robert Matthew – Robert Matthew Johnson-Marshall (RMJM)

New photos from 29 Apr 2013 + 12 Nov 2012.

New Zealand House Building

Site of former Carlton Hotel

photo © Nick Weall

Tower is 255ft high – 15 storeys

Centrally located over a four-storey podium

Robert Matthew architect

The High Commission of New Zealand in London is the diplomatic mission of New Zealand in the United Kingdom. It is housed in a skyscraper known as New Zealand House on Haymarket, London, off Pall Mall. As well as containing the offices of the High Commissioner, the building also hosts the New Zealand consulate in London and the military attaché. Since 1995, it has been a Grade II Listed Building.

photo © Nick Weall

The High Commission was built by Holland, Hannen & Cubitts in 1959 on the derelict site of the Carlton Hotel, destroyed by a bomb during the Blitz. New Zealand House was to be the main diplomatic representation for the New Zealand government, and no expense was spared in its construction.

The design differed from the other diplomatic buildings of other Commonwealth countries in that it would be a modern skyscraper, designed by Sir Robert Matthew. After difficulties in planning permission, the 18 storey building was constructed only after permission was granted by the British Cabinet. It is the only tall building in this part of London, and remains controversial.

photo © Nick Weall

It is an overseas post of the New Zealand Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade. The current High Commissioner to the United Kingdom is His Excellency Dr Lockwood Smith, who was formerly the Speaker of the House of the New Zealand Parliament. The current Acting High Commissioner is Rob Taylor. New Zealand House is staffed by a team of 20 diplomats and local staff. The focus of the High Commission’s work is managing New Zealand’s political, economic and trade relations with the United Kingdom and Ireland.
Soruce: wikipedia

More information online soon

Location: Haymarket, London SW1, England, UK