1953 – Irish Embassy, 17 Grosvenor Place, London

Described in some detail in Architectural Review including photographs, illustrations including some of the private residential quarters. The carpets were hand-woven in Killybegs. Still the Embassy of Ireland today.

“17, Grosvenor Place, London, acquired by the Republic of Ireland for conversion as residence and offices for the embassy comprises five storeys and basement, with three storeys and basement annexe. Accommodation was required for consulate, secretariat, trade, typists and registry sections, a public waiting and interview room, a library and information room adjoining the main entrance, an area for official receptions and conferences, living accommodation for the ambassador and a caretaker’s flat. The official section has been located on the basement, ground and first floors of the main building and in the annexe: the residential section and caretaker’s flat occupy the remainder. Three new staircases have been added: off the entrance hall serving ground and basement floors and giving direct and separate access to the consulate section : in the annexe serving ground, mezzanine, first and second floors for staff use mainly; and in the main building serving second, third and fourth floors of the residential section. In addition a new flight has been added in the annexe serving first and second floors. The original main staircase is retained as the main official staircase. The restores first floor of the main block houses the ambassador’s private office, the official reception room, and conference-and-dining room, or salon. Large folding doors to the reception room allow the three rooms to be arranged en suite during reception.

The wall panels in the ambassador’s room are dove-grey Irish silk poplin. The curtains are ribbed lemon-yellow poplin. The reception room is finished in pearl-grey with rubbed off mouldings, and the salon in cream and gold leaf. The hand-woven carpets were designed by the architect. The original dining-room on the ground floor now forms three main secretariat offices and a corridor. The annex originally comprised large mahogany panelled room, a badminton court, garage and stables. The panelled room has been retained for staff use, the badminton court and stables accommodate messengers and porters, stores, etc., and part of the garage is used as such. A new reinforced-concrete mezzanine floor has been added for furniture depository and file storage. The large waiting room and interview offices in the basement has a floor patten of large diagonal toles of nutmeg and chamois: the ceilings and wall behind the counter are pale blue, the remaining walls lilac. The main staircase has a Donegal hand-woven carpet designed by the architect based on motifs from the Book of Kells and the arms of the four provinces of Ireland in plaster relief on the wall opposites the official reception room.

The second and third floors of the main building constitute the family residence with reception and ding areas on the second floor and bedrooms and bathroom above. The large drawing room is divided by heavy oyster-satin curtains and contains two fire surrounds in granted quarried from the Dublin Mountains. The fourth floor contains servants’ quarters, caretaker’s flat, and a large nursery. Servants’ quarters are divided from the flat buy a movable screen at the head of the domestic stairs.”

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