The Knightsbridge Estate reimagines a set of historic buildings to create a truly mixed-use urban block. The 340,000 sqft project includes four levels of enhanced retail, new offices at Hooper’s Court, homes around a secluded courtyard garden, a light-filled rooftop restaurant with panoramic views across west London; plus a new, step-free entrance to Knightsbridge tube station, as well as extensive public realm improvements. Working with historic building consultants Donald Insall Associates, we restored the architectural integrity of each individual building, where each gabled ‘house’ has been considered to ensure a coherent design. Careful research has been undertaken to develop the design for the entirety of The Knightsbridge Estate. Using original drawings and architectural records, the team delivered previously unrealised elements of the original design for the building. The design restores Hooper’s Court passage, increasing the site’s pedestrian permeability. The new pathway features the original Knightsbridge Underground station facade in iconic oxblood tiles designed by Leslie Green in the early 1900s. The design of the new elevation on One Hooper’s Court is inspired by gardener John Hooper of Knightsbridge, who laid out Hooper’s Court in the late 18th Century. It is a digitally printed, vitreous enamelled, unitised metal façade with a honeysuckle motif, which is extended through the project. A new restaurant on the top floor of One Hooper’s Court is covered in a perforated metal structure. This allows light to penetrate the space while openable full-height panels filter the amount of light. The new Burberry flagship store and new Apple flagship store are set in prominent street locations and redefine Knightsbridge’s shopping experience. The relocated tube entrance offers wider pavements, while a new step-free entrance makes use of London Underground's existing abandoned shafts and tunnels. Clever behind-the-scenes adjustments, such as air-conditioning, improve the capacity and quality of the Piccadilly Line.