Dorma Variflex Semi Automatic Acoustic Moveable Wall - London, the Old War Office - Raffles hotel ballroom

The OWO hotel, previously the Old War Offices in London, opened for the first time to the public in Summer 2023 as the UK’s first Raffles Hotel offering 85 unique private residences, nine exciting restaurants, three iconic bars, Guerlain’s first London Spa and an active wellness by Pillar Wellbeing.

Working with EPR Architects, and Ardmore Construction, partitioning expert Style was specified to sub-divide the impressive main ballroom with a 6.5 metre high Dorma Huppe Variflex semi-automatic moveable wall.

With an incredible 60dB acoustic rating, noisy events can take place either side of the wall without sound interference, and the operable wall has a chic fabric finish to perfectly complement the interior design of the room.

Style also installed Dorma Hüppe’s unique i-Track system, designed to make the moving of tall moveable walls both simple and safe for the operator.

Cleverly harnessing the kinetic energy created by panel movement, i-Track utilises that momentum to effortlessly facilitate a change in direction as each panel passes through the curves, into and out of the parking pocket. Track diverters are also used to manually program the carriers to automatically move each panel to the correct parking location.

In addition, Style was also specified to install four more 59dB Dorma Hüppe Variflex semi-automatic moveable walls to create a series of flexible meeting rooms, enabling staff to quickly adapt the space depending on usage.

Built on the historic royal site of Whitehall Palace, this is where Ian Fleming conjured up the idea of James Bond having been inspired by the building’s resident spies. It went on to feature in three 007 films as the MI6 headquarters, where M’s office was located, and between 2017 and 2023 it was lovingly restored.

“It was a genuine privilege to have been chosen for one of the most iconic buildings in London,” said Style’s group managing director, Julian Sargent, “and it is testimony to the quality of our people, products and craftmanship that we were entrusted to work on this famous landmark.”