A Hotel For The Ages

Once the site of military machinations, espionage activities and multiple Bond films, he Old War Office in London's Whitehall has undergone a billion-pound-plus transformation o become The OWO and the landmark address of Raffles London at The OWO.

- Renvi Lim

“WE SHAPE OUR buildings and afterwards our buildings shape us,” Sir Winston Churchill was quoted as saying in 1943. “I, naturally, should like to see it restored in all essentials to its old form, convenience and dignity.” Although the formidable British statesman was referring to the House of Commons, he could well have been describing the Old War Office at 57 Whitehall, a building of immense historical importance intertwined with Great Britain’s political and military might.

Constructed in 1906 for the British Army, the Old War Office—today abbreviated to The OWO and a Grade IIlisted Edwardian baroque-style building—has been the office of numerous political and military leaders (including Churchill) and the birthplace of intelligence agencies MI5 and MI6. Aficionados of 007 will be thrilled to learn that Sir Ian Fleming, partly inspired by The OWO’s resident spies, is said to have conceptualised James Bond while passing through one of the espionage centre’s corridors. So strong is its connection with the Bond canon that the building has been used as a film location in multiple movies, from 1983’s Octopussy to 2015’s Spectre.

Given The OWO’s rich, storied history, its acquisition by the family-run Hinduja Group in 2016—and subsequent transformation—was never a project to be undertaken lightly. An epic eight-year, billion-pound-plus restoration saw the property’s expansion from just below 54,000sqm of abandoned government offices to a 76,000sqm development encompassing luxury residences, nine destination restaurants and Raffles London at The OWO.