The Livery Hall for The Worshipful Company of Chartered Architects
The typical Livery Hall is a place which is shrouded in tradition and formality, a place of trade and business matters, that, in the
past, were matters of high stature and ceremony. However, in designing for a modern company, it was important to address both
the ceremonial traditions of Livery Companies and the sociable, charitable and festive nature of the WCCA. As such, Humphry
Repton’s poem and plates concerning interiors revealed how view and access to external spaces increased the sociability and informality of a space. The natural environment of the greenery beyond infused into the rooms opening enfilade, allowing a more relaxed interior. The poem and plates were essential contributors to the design for The WCCA, with the rooms of festivity opening into a large courtyard, and the most formal, ceremonial rooms retaining their traditional integrity. As an underestimated precedent, this thesis takes the work of McKim, Mead and White and examines the most successful works. Their oeuvre forms a paradigm for the Livery Hall of The Worshipful Company of Chartered Architects, taking into account the geographical and historical context of The City of London and the Institution of The Livery Companies.
“The Livery Halls of the City of London are unique jewels that greatly enhance the City’s rich architectural heritage. They represent the significance of the livery in the governance of the Square Mile, and they reflect the long history of trade and commerce that defines the historic heart of the capital.” – ALDERMAN CHARLES BOWMAN LORD MAYOR OF THE CITY OF LONDON 2017-2018
