The German Gymnasium a Grade II listed former nineteenth century gymnasium between King’s Cross Station and St Pancras International has been renovated and has now become a new restaurant operated by D&D London. The venue is made up of the ground floor Grand Cafe, first floor restaurant and the Meister Bar.

In 2013 Allies and Morrison were commissioned to restore and repair the fabric of the building to a shell and core finish to enable subsequent fit out by a restaurant operator. The proposals restore the original volume of the German Gymnasium removing as much of the first floor as possible to allow the large laminated timber trusses and closed boarded roof structure to be seen and enjoyed from ground level as it was originally intended. This involved carefully removing internal partitions and rooms that once filled the space to reveal the building’s original internal volume. The long galleries that once ran along either side of the first floor were restored, building from the original timber structures still buried beneath the later finishes, using replicated timber strut detail and the cast iron columns with decorated capitals as support beneath them.

Externally, the brickwork was cleaned, repaired and repointed in matching material, a number of openings adjusted at ground floor level to improve permeability. The brick parapets at the gable ends were lifted and re-dressed in lead to allow for new build up in roof finishes and new insulation to be inserted.

The new interiors, designed by Conran and Partners, occupy the original triple height space and contain a blend of restored original features and modern interpretations inspired by the original use, such as gold mesh screens inspired by Victorian detailing and fencing masks, transforming the Grade II Listed Building into a unique destination.

DATA

Complete
2015
Area 
1,585 sqm
Location 
King's Cross
London, NW1

New London Architecture Award
2016