"MB were invited to design a cohesive and broad reworking of the entire layout of the iconic Groucho Club, which had grown organically over the years in a very tight site across three old Soho buildings.
We worked closely with the client to breathe life into the club as it enters its fourth decade, with an approach sensitive to the clubs history and incredible ever-changing art collection.
The new design significantly modifies the entire building footprint. This took 24 months to execute, creating an intuitive flow through the openings and connections between the many rooms of the club including two dining rooms, three bars and a screening room. Many of the building?s original features have been restored: the main staircase and the timber panelling on the walls have been stripped back. An antique oak floor has been added to give the room a real sense of timelessness.
The Mary Lou Room has a bar and reclaimed fireplace at the heart of the room with a feature plaster ceiling and an antique oak herringbone floor. There is a new direct connection to the adjoining dining room where the plaster detailing has been brought back to life, and luxurious Brazilian marble tables and sprung curved banquettes have been chosen to create a rich yet comfortable design scheme. The walls have been relined with linen to help the acoustics of the space, chosen in a light, neutral tone as a backdrop against the salon-style art collection.
The impressive T-shape Soho Bar has been given a more contemporary feel with dramatic lacquered walls and a reclaimed wooden floor from the BBC?s historic Bush House: a fitting piece of media heritage. We sourced lights furniture, fabrics, and reclaimed items to create a diverse and eclectic look, as if the scheme has grown together over time."