Balancing modern access with Grade I listed heritage
Lyfthaus designed a bespoke lightwell lift for the David Hockney Gallery in London to provide access between the street and the entrance of a Grade I listed Edwardian property.
The 200-year-old lightwell featured uneven surfaces and strict heritage protections that required a lift to be virtually invisible to the public.
The gallery achieved full accessibility with a high-performance lift that preserves the architectural integrity and historical significance of Hanover Square.
The David Hockney Gallery, situated in a Grade I listed Edwardian property in Hanover Square, London, required a vertical transport solution that met the highest standards of conservation and craftsmanship.
Lyfthaus was commissioned to design and install a bespoke lightwell lift to provide essential access between the street level and the entrance of this historic building. In a location of significant historical importance, the project demanded a solution that balanced modern engineering with the delicate aesthetics of the art world.
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Installing a lift at a Grade I listed property presents extreme architectural hurdles, as any addition must be virtually invisible to avoid detracting from the building’s heritage. The original lightwell at Hanover Square featured an uneven surface, a result of its 200-year history, which was unsuitable for a standard lift installation.
Furthermore, the gallery required a solution that would blend perfectly with the existing Art Deco balustrades and historical metalwork, ensuring that passing pedestrians and visitors would not notice a modern intervention.
Lyfthaus developed a highly bespoke lift featuring a series of custom architectural integrations designed to mimic the building’s original features. To ensure smooth operation against the aged brickwork, a lightwell fascia plate was installed to provide a perfectly flush running face.
The lift was finished with an LLC waffle cast iron grate floor and platform-mounted glass barriers for safety. To maintain visual continuity, the street-side gate was meticulously replicated to match the original Art Deco balustrade, while an adjacent entry gate was added to facilitate the specific traffic flow of the gallery entrance.
The final installation is a triumph of “invisible” engineering, successfully providing reliable access while remaining completely unobtrusive to the public and gallery visitors. By matching the historic Art Deco aesthetic and correcting the irregularities of the 200-year-old lightwell,
Lyfthaus ensured the David Hockney Gallery remains accessible without compromising its Grade I listed status. This project reinforces Lyfthaus’s reputation for delivering specialised accessibility solutions that satisfy the most stringent heritage and planning requirements in Central London.
Industry
Arts & Culture
Lift Solutions Used
Lightwell Lift
Product Highlight
We are proud to have installed our bespoke lightwell lifts in some of the most iconic and beautiful contemporary and heritage buildings across Britain.
