Spring 2005
Szerelmey were appointed as specialist stonework contractors by John Sisk and Son Limited to procure, supply and fix the stonework cladding to the Royal Lancaster Hotel in Bayswater.

The existing pre-cast concrete cladding of the late 1960s podium had come to the end of its life.The work involved the removal of the existing cladding from the three-storey podium and provision of a new self-supporting stone and glass façade, the stonework elements of which included columns, lintels and ashlar panels.

The stonework at ground level consists of a granite plinth imported from Africa, cut and finished in Italy and has a flame textured finish. A plinth course in this material provides a barrier to resist visible staining of the stonework at this level.

Above the plinth level the stonework consists of Crema Capri limestone imported from Spain in block form and delivered to Portland for final cutting and finishing.The final finish has been achieved purely from the fine sawing capabilities of modern day cutting equipment. As a result, no additional finishing processes have been required.

Eric Parry Architects specifically chose Crema Capri as it is regarded as one of the ‘cleanest’ forms of limestone available, which visually produces a strong contrast with the stainless steel window frames and creates the desired clean, crisp effect.

Installation of the large lintel panels and column sections were achieved through the use of a mobile crane.The panels were suspended on lifting strops and called for very accurate placement due to the fine building tolerances required.

The supply and installation package necessitated both hands-on site management coupled with coordinated procurement from two European sources, as well as the stone cutting based in Portland. Despite the potential problems that could be experienced with a contract of this nature, the project was delivered on time and within budget.