Duke of York Restaurant wins architectural award

Selected as one of three projects in UK wide search for ‘Architecture of Tomorrow’.

The Duke of York Restaurant has been Highly Commended for its innovative design at The Architects’ Journal prestigious Architecture Tomorrow Awards. A panel of judges selected the project as just one of three after a countrywide search for the best yet-to-be-built schemes.

The state-of-the-art Duke of York Restaurant, which will be located in the heart of Chelsea in the largely Grade II-listed Duke of York Square, was designed by London-based practice Nex Architecture following an international architectural competition in 2012 which attracted almost 150 entries from around the world.

Championing the best of modern design in harmony with its heritage and surroundings, the restaurant will include the UK’s first innovative glass facade which will lower into a single storey basement during fine weather. It also includes a circular roof terrace open to the public as an additional green space to relax, overlooking the ‘running track’ famed as Roger Banister’s training ground for the four-minute mile. The judges said that the design had achieved the right architectural balance within its historical surrounds, commenting: “It’s elegant and well-mannered but also modern.” 

This proposal builds on Cadogan’s award-winning redevelopment of Duke of York Square, completed in 2004, which brought a tired Territorial Army site back into active use – creating new public space, shops, places to eat and a new home for the iconic Saatchi Gallery which moved to the Square in 2008.