As we celebrate 20 years of Knight Harwood, we are taking a moment to reflect on some of the defining projects that helped shape who we are today. One of the earliest, and most iconic, was the transformation of the Grade I listed Duke of York’s Headquarters on Chelsea’s King’s Road into the new home of the @saatchi_gallery.
This was no ordinary refurbishment. The sensitive conversion of this historic building into a world-class contemporary art space demanded the highest standards of precision, care, and design integrity. The result was a series of 15 elegantly minimalist galleries, hailed as one of the best places to view contemporary art in London.
Every element was considered to ensure the artwork remained the true focus:
– Erco lighting systems created clean, focused illumination.
– Barisol ceilings were installed to evenly diffuse light across the galleries.
– Timber flooring and a chilled beam cooling system were chosen for both comfort and aesthetic continuity.
The success of the Saatchi Gallery project set a precedent for how we approach complex heritage refurbishments, balancing respect for the past with an eye on the future.
