The City of London’s first ever high-rise residential tower block, Great Arthur House, on the City’s Golden Lane Estate, will be given a facelift this year. Regeneration specialists will replace 15 storeys of original single-glazed facades while residents remain in their homes. Grade II listed Great Arthur House, designed by Chamberlin Powell & Bon and completed in 1957, stands over 40m tall and offers residents maximum light and views over London. The building’s current thin aluminium glazing reaches two thirds of the internal height of each floor making it an intrinsic visual element of the structure. Under the £6m project, a total of 120 homes will benefit from new double glazing and curtain walling, to help aid insulation, increase thermal standards and enhance the building’s appearance.

The glazed curtain wall on Great Arthur House is a key component of the building’s listing and an essential element to incorporate in the refurbishment programme, as all renovation plans will require heritage and planning approval from English Heritage.

Lochlan MacDonald, from the City of London, said: “Great Arthur House was constructed to showcase the elegance and desirability of high-rise living in the social housing sector. The importance of renovating the building’s recognisable glazed façade, in a manner that meets English Heritage’s requirements for the listing, will ensure that residents can still enjoy apartment living, with the benefits of today’s glazing technology improving their home’s energy efficiency.”

Simon Lacey, from Keepmoat, who are carrying out the work, said: “We’re extremely excited to work on one of London’s historical residential landmarks, alongside the City of London and English Heritage. Great Arthur House is a fantastic regeneration project, which will see the building revitalised in appearance and ability to meet today’s energy efficient standards.”