The Rebirth of Michelin House
In November 1985, Conran Roche and YRM, the architects and designers put in charge by Michelin House Developments (the company set up to redevelop the building) made an application for planning permission to increase the existing floor area from 90,000 to 118,000 square feet (11,000 m2). This was to be achieved by building a new steel and glass structure that would fill the space occupied by the side loading bay on the Sloane Avenue side, and by adding a new neater front end to the third floor and secondly, adding a new fourth floor and plant room above. Planning permission was granted and work began.
The chief contractor was Bovis who worked on the shell and core. Conran Roche work on the interior of the new Conran Shop, and YRM worked on the interiors of the Octopus Publishing offices.
Conran Roche and YRM had to search for suppliers to recreate many of the building's original features. The three stained glass windows which had been removed for safety during the Second World War had been lost and the glass cupolas at the front of the building had disappeared. After a long search, suppliers were found, and replicas of the windows and cupolas were made using original drawings, photos and posters.
In August 1987, Michelin House re-opened.
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