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feature
dolphin square, pimlico
of the Dolphin Square Conservation Area. When AXA-IM Alts acquired Dolphin
Square in 2020 on behalf of its clients, the objectives were clear: preserve the original design, modernise services, enhance interiors and amenities, protect the gardens, and foster a stronger sense of community. The ambition demanded a holistic restoration strategy, balancing heritage with innovation. Reimagining the entrance to Dolphin
Square meant restoring a true sense of arrival – one originally conceived with grandeur in mind, Stanley Gordon Jeeves, who designed Grosvenor Road as the grand primary frontage. His drawings revealed a striking vision – elegant steps leading to the water’s edge, allowing residents to fully embrace the riverside setting. At its heart, the tripartite arches, subtly adorned yet commanding, framed a long, uninterrupted vista that led into the lush gardens of the quadrangle. This composed perspective culminated at the estate’s crowning feature – a colonnaded pavilion with a distinctive copper roof, its steps ascending to the original Spanish Gardens. By the 1970s, this vision had been
eroded. The opening of Pimlico Underground Station shifted arrivals to the Chichester Street entrance, originally intended only for taxis and service deliveries. Internally, this space lacked cohesion, with poor circulation, low ceilings, and limited natural light. The estate’s treasured gardens were barely visible. Attempts to improve this secondary entrance over the years had
failed to resolve its fundamental spatial shortcomings. The opportunity finally came to restore the grandeur Jeeves envisioned and transform Chichester Street into a true gateway. GRID’s bold architectural response has restored both presence and purpose to this long-neglected entrance. First, the entrance was reconnected to the landscape. By removing enclosed spaces between Rodney House and the pool, GRID opened up views and sightlines into the gardens. Redundant rooftop structures were cleared, allowing cleaner vistas. A new two-storey pavilion with a dramatic double-height lobby now forms the heart of the arrival experience. Natural light floods the space. Grand staircases wrap around the existing lift cores, bridging levels with fluidity and grace.
GRID echoed Jeeves’ use of arched openings – particularly the triptych on Grosvenor Road – by replacing small street-facing openings with double-height glazed arches. Inside, parts of the first-floor slab were removed to create a bridge- like circulation route. Sliding glass doors connect the lobby to a landscaped terrace overlooking the once-hidden Moroccan Gardens, now fully accessible. From the moment of arrival, the space
feels clear and composed. A reception desk, lit by skylights, sits directly on axis. Fluted timber cladding warms the lift cores, and a palette of finishes strikes a balance between contemporary refinement and 1930s heritage. Designed by GRID Interiors, the scheme
respects the original spirit through its materials, detailing, and atmosphere. Reinvention extended to Dolphin
Square’s leisure amenities. Originally conceived as part of the ‘living utopia’, the pool, gym, squash courts and spa had become outdated. GRID Interiors redesigned the gym with state-of-the- art equipment and expanded capacity. Unused rooms were converted into treatment spaces and fitness studios. Phase two of the works will deliver upgraded pool, spa and reception facilities, with restored glass block skylights bringing natural light back into the space. Sustainability was a core component of the project. The building, with a concrete frame and masonry walls, was uninsulated and mostly single-glazed. Energy use reached 315 kWh/m²/year, far exceeding new-build standards. GRID tackled this by decommissioning the gas-fired communal heating system, replacing over 2,000 windows, insulating roofs, installing more than 40 air source heat pumps, and switching to renewable electricity, while the Dolphin Square management team introduced green leases to align with tenants’ ESG targets. All upgrades were sensitively integrated within the constraints of the Conservation Area. Roof plant enclosures were reused or discreetly extended. New MVHR systems were carefully designed, with circular louvre terminations that referenced the cast-iron structural ties of the original architecture. Replacing windows with heritage sash systems matched original profiles while improving thermal performance.
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