The OWO

Completed in 1906 by Clyde Young, son of architect William Young who originally designed it in 1898, the Old War Office is one of the great buildings of the Edwardian era, built on the site of the Whitehall Palace that for centuries housed British monarchs, including King Henry VIII.  
With more than 1,000 rooms linked by 2.5 miles of corridors and serving as the headquarters for influential political and military leaders including Winston Churchill, Lord Haldane and T. E. Lawrence (who became famous as Lawrence of Arabia), it stood as silent witness to world shaping events of the 20th century.   

Inspired by the spies residing in the Grade II* listed building, Sir Ian Fleming, the author of James Bond, conceived the idea of 007 when working in naval intelligence and attending meetings within these walls.  
This building so steeped in history and charm underwent a massive eight-year transformation for which hundreds of craftsmen worked to restore period features including the hand-laid mosaic floors, rich oak paneling, magnificent chandeliers and dramatic marble staircase.  

In September 2023 it was reborn as The OWO and now houses the first Raffles Hotel in the UK with 120 rooms and suites and 85 Residences.  The OWO is now becoming the capital's new culinary epicenter with no less than 9 new restaurants and 3 bars led by world-renowned chefs and restaurateurs. 
Other highlights include the Guerlain Spa spanning 27,000 square meters over four floors of Raffles London at The OWO with a 20-meter pool and fitness space created by movement specialists Pillar.  

dpa lighting consultants developed the lighting solutions for both the interior and exterior of this challenging project.  

iGuzzini fixtures were used for the architectural lighting of the facades of this iconic building. iPro floodlights with spot optics, in some instances using cylinders, allowed for precise light focus to achieve an effect in which the strong contrast of light and shadow emphasizes the rich detail of its facades and Alfred Drury's sculptures. These magnificent effects were fine-tuned with the careful direction of dpa during a series of rehearsals and commissioning carried out using climbing techniques.