Greater London House, UK

Heritage Meets Contemporary Elegance

Armourcoat Polished Plaster creates a striking entrance for the refurbishment of Greater London House in Camden’s Mornington Crescent. Originally the Carreras Cigarette Factory, this iconic Art Deco Egyptian revival building, owned by Lazari Investments, has been transformed with a contemporary yet heritage-driven design.

A key feature of the interior by Forme UK, the hand-applied Smooth Polished Plaster wall finish pays homage to the building’s historic façade while reflecting its scale and significance. A dramatic entrance ‘portico’ incorporates subtle Egyptian-inspired motifs and shapes, finished in a deep anthracite polished plaster. Adding to the narrative, a silhouette outline of the famous bronze cat sculptures that flank the entrance is embedded into the design—an emblem of the building’s heritage, referencing the black cat branding of Carreras’ Craven A cigarettes.

Reminiscent of the marmorino stucco widely used in northern Italy during the Renaissance, Smooth Polished Plaster is natural, mid-sheen finish with visible crushed marble and light burnishing from the trowel application. This expertly hand-applied finish allows for a variety of surface effects, from a soft, lightly polished texture to a richly burred, marble-like appearance, bringing depth and elegance to this architectural landmark.