The client – the owner of the Westwell Barn project – has been an art dealer and consultant since 1969. Originally located on Bruton Street, the new gallery and offices are now located on the first floor of a fine Victorian building at the top of St James’s Street.

Thomas Gibson specialises in Impressionist and international contemporary paintings, with artists including Frank Aurbach, Francis Bacon and Peter Blake. To visually soften the spaces a series of screens run along all external walls reducing the different sized window openings to a soft translucent glow. The brief asked for a painting gallery, private viewing room, director’s studios and offices. Many interior details are customised – doors, wide plank floor and lighting coves. The intention being to transform what was a standard office floor into a rather fabulous space with residential character.