The OWO Residences by Raffles has revealed its first-ever interior showcase – the creative imagining of four of its signature homes, designed by leading studios Angel O’Donnell, HBA, Accouter and RJP Design. The landmark Grade II*-listed building –which used to be the government's Old War Office (OWO) and is now home to the new Raffles London hotel, a Guerlain and Pillar Wellbeing spa, a selection of restaurants and bars (including a striking courtyard pavilion and Kioku), and the residences – opened in September 2023 following a meticulous, eight-year renovation and brand strategy rework by creative agency Greenspace. Yet the residential element had not yet been seen – till now.
Step inside The OWO Residences’ apartment by Angel O’Donnell
The apartments revealed this month (May 2024) span a smart, art-led four-bedroom home by HBA; a layered, calming two-bedroom by Accouter Group; a warm and gently colourful three-bedroom duplex with a terrace by RJP Design; and this three-bedroom, strikingly high-ceilinged space by Angel O’Donnell, complete with large trees and tall windows.
Angel O'Donnell – the team behind works such as interiors at One Crown Place in the City of London – is led by practice founders Richard Angel and Ed O’Donnell. The designers used ‘restrained refinement’ as their guiding principle, mixing opulent details with practical touches, such as tall bookshelving, curated, strategic art that works with its context, bespoke products and fittings by British artisans, and a sense of playfulness.
The generous living, dining and kitchen space feels luxurious with its large entrance hall and unusually tall ceilings. There is a more and a less formal section, both adorned with low-slung seating, warm wools, soft velvets, and cool stones and metals. A handmade glass chandelier and a hand-tufted Tibetan wool rug are highlights.
The principal bedroom suite comes in an unusually curved configuration, which allowed the designers to be creative and fun – hiding the walk-in wardrobe area behind a bespoke partition that separates it from the bed area, ensuring functionality does not come second to style. The decor here includes a bespoke burlwood, bean-shaped dressing table with fluted cylindrical legs, ceramic plates by Alicia Corbett, and lithographs by the late Expressionist Scottish painter Alan Davie.
The remaining two bedrooms follow a similar approach in different scales, mixing contemporary custom pieces with classics, such as the 1970s Mario Bellini ‘Cab’ chair.
'It was pure joy designing a second show residence inside this remarkable building. We created lots of bespoke, handcrafted pieces; used marble, bronze, burlwood, oak, wool, and leather; curated an exciting mix of art; then tied it all together with a warm, neutral palette for a cosy, pared-back and discerningly stylish look,' says O’Donnell.
All homes at the OWO Residences have access to communal spaces and a range of amenities – including various lounges for residents, a spa, gym and wellness space awash with natural light, and entertainment facilities – designed by 1508 London.
-
Rio Kobayashi’s new furniture bridges eras, shown alongside Fritz Rauh’s midcentury paintings at Blunk SpaceFurniture designer Rio Kobayashi unveils a new series, informed by the paintings of midcentury artist Fritz Rauh, at California’s Blunk Space
-
New York restaurant Locanda Verde’s second outpost will transport you to a different time and placeLocanda Verde’s expansive new Hudson Yards osteria exudes a sophisticated yet intimate atmosphere overflowing with art treasures
-
LVMH watch week 2025: everything we know so farOur guide to LVMH Watch Week 2025, taking place in New York and Paris, starting 21 January; keep an eye out for our updates
-
This elegant infill project slots beautifully into the London streetscapeIn this infill project, a row of garages in Blackheath, south-east London, has been replaced by a contemporary family home by local practice Mailen Design
-
Don’t Move, Improve 2025: the 14 London homes adding design oomph to the everydayThe shortlist for Don’t Move, Improve 2025 has been announced, revealing 14 residential projects across London that add value and pizazz to their inhabitants’ daily lives
-
Space House: explore the brutalist London landmark’s new chapterSpace House, a landmark of brutalist architecture by Richard Seifert & Partners in London’s Covent Garden, is back following a 21st-century redesign by Squire & Partners and developer Seaforth Land
-
Fire-damaged Walworth Town Hall shows off majestic transformationWalworth Town Hall gets a much-needed reimagining by Feix & Merlin, who transformed the heritage building into a contemporary workspace and a hub of its local community in south London
-
Hanif Kara on building materials, the transition from old to new, and a healthy dose of realismHanif Kara, co-founder of structural engineering practice AKT II, discusses building materials and the future of sustainability
-
Year in review: the top 12 houses of 2024, picked by architecture director Ellie StathakiThe top 12 houses of 2024 comprise our finest and most read residential posts of the year, compiled by Wallpaper* architecture & environment director Ellie Stathaki
-
A brutalist garden revived: the case of the Mountbatten House grounds by Studio Knight StokoeTour a brutalist garden redesign by Studio Knight Stokoe at Mountbatten House, a revived classic in Basingstoke, UK
-
An eco-conscious reconfiguration of space revives a London homeAn eco-conscious reimagining of a Victorian terraced home for a growing London family, THISS Studio’s Hartley House offers sustainable, spacious living
