66 Portland Place

66 Portland Place. This prominent Art Deco building in the Marylebone district of London serves as the headquarters of the Royal Institute of British Architects (RIBA). Constructed between 1932 and 1934, it was designed by architect Grey Wornum following an international competition. The building is celebrated for its architectural innovation and houses the renowned RIBA Library and the RIBA Drawings Collection.

History

The site was acquired by the Royal Institute of British Architects in the early 20th century to establish a permanent, purpose-built headquarters. An architectural competition held in 1931 was won by Grey Wornum, with the assessors including esteemed figures like Edwin Lutyens and Raymond Unwin. Construction was managed by the firm Mears Construction Company and the building was officially opened in November 1934 by King George V and Queen Mary. Throughout its history, it has hosted countless significant events, including lectures by architectural luminaries such as Le Corbusier, Walter Gropius, and Ludwig Mies van der Rohe. During World War II, it sustained minor damage from the London Blitz but remained operational.

Architecture

The design by Grey Wornum is a masterful example of streamlined Art Deco architecture, incorporating elements of the Modern Movement. The principal facade on Portland Place is clad in Portland stone and features a central, glazed staircase tower that becomes a beacon of light at night. Notable interior spaces include the majestic Jersey Room, lined with French walnut, and the top-lit Florence Hall, which serves as a central exhibition space. The building's innovative use of materials includes vitrolite and macassar ebony, and it originally featured advanced technology like a Paternoster lift. For his design, Wornum was awarded the prestigious RIBA Royal Gold Medal in 1932.

Royal Institute of British Architects (RIBA)

As the headquarters of the Royal Institute of British Architects, the building is the epicenter of architectural discourse in the United Kingdom. It houses the world-class RIBA Library, one of the largest architectural collections globally, and the RIBA Drawings Collection, which includes works by Christopher Wren and Erno Goldfinger. The institution organizes major exhibitions, such as the annual RIBA Stirling Prize ceremony, and its headquarters have been visited by international figures like Frank Lloyd Wright and Buckminster Fuller. The RIBA President traditionally has offices here, and the building facilitates the institute's role in setting standards through documents like the RIBA Plan of Work.

Cultural Significance

66 Portland Place is a Grade II* listed building, recognized for its special architectural and historic interest by Historic England. It functions as a public venue, hosting the popular London Festival of Architecture and open days for events like Open House London. The building's collections are a vital resource for researchers studying figures from John Nash to Zaha Hadid. Its enduring status was underscored when it featured on a postage stamp issued by the Royal Mail in 1984 to commemorate the RIBA's 150th anniversary. The building stands as a physical manifesto of early 20th-century architectural ambition in Britain.

In Popular Culture

The distinctive Art Deco interiors of the building have made it a sought-after filming location. It notably stood in for the BBC in the Bafta-winning television drama The Hour. It has also appeared in episodes of the series Poirot, featuring David Suchet, and the film The End of the Affair, starring Ralph Fiennes. Its striking architecture was utilized in the music video for the song "Right Here, Right Now" by Fatboy Slim. Furthermore, the building and its collections have been featured in documentaries presented by architectural historians such as Dan Cruickshank.

Category:Art Deco architecture in London Category:Royal Institute of British Architects Category:Grade II* listed buildings in the City of Westminster