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During 1998 the Government of Iceland renewed the lease on the residence of the Icelandic Ambassador, located in Park Street, Mayfair, within the Mayfair Conservation Area and forming part of the Grosvenor Estate. The building had seen considerable use over the preceding years and served a number of Ambassadors.
In addition to requiring complete redecoration and some repairs to the building fabric and roof, the services in the building, particularly the heating and electrical installations, had become out-dated.
 
The use of resources for the scheme, both human and financial, needed to be strictly controlled, and the Icelandic Government was seeking a solution which enabled the entire project, from detailed planning to completion, to be handled by one organisation.
 
The project involved obtaining Local Authority and Landlord's consents, space planning, interior design, assessment of structural aspects, complete stripping out and refurbishment of all services. Uniquely, even the necessary Party Wall Agreements were handled within the package and formed part of a fixed price contract.
 
The interior of the period lift has been refurbished and a waiver was negotiated with the Fire Officer to enable the retention of this period piece of lift engineering.
New carpeting was laid on the refurbished staircase, with new timber flooring in the public areas of the residence, including the Ambassador's study which was brought within the first floor hospitality area by the fitting of new double doors, new library shelving and new cupboards.
 
The restored ground floor cloakroom retained its period fittings.
The scheme was completed two months early and within the planned budget, enabling the new Ambassador to take up his post and occupy the building earlier than planned.
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