sketch

sketch’s home, a Grade II* listed building on 9 Conduit Street, was designed by James Wyatt in 1779 as a private residence of James Viner. The building hosted a variety of institutions including the headquarters of the Royal Institute of British Architects, before later becoming the London Atelier of Christian Dior, as well as hosting the headquarters of the Suffragette movement in the early 20th century.

Dame Millicent Garrett Fawcett GBE (1847-1929) was a British feminist, intellectual, political, union leader, writer, and champion of women’s equality. She is primarily known for her work as a campaigner for women’s suffrage in legal changes and led Britain’s largest women’s rights association, The National Union of Women’s Societies (1897–1919). On the 17th of July 1869, Dame Fawcett spoke at a public meeting held at 9 Conduit Street calling for the enfranchisement of women. A private dining area within The Lecture Room & Library is named after Fawcett to commemorate the speech given in the building.

From 1887 to 1909, the building was converted into the headquarters of the Royal Institute of British Architects (RIBA) and still retains its plaque and crest in the entrance hall. 9 Conduit Street played a central role in the architectural life of Great Britain in the nineteenth and twentieth centuries, with RIBA holding its first Architectural Exhibition opening on 7th November 1859. The Architectural Union Company sought to create a ‘home of the architectural bodies of the metropolis, – the center, of architectural progress in England.’

The townhouse continued its design legacy and history in the mid-20th century to become Christian Dior’s London atelier, within which Dior housed his collections. Dior moved into 9 Conduit Street in 1961 and the showroom was initially designed by Victor Grandpierre, who kept it very much in a Dior style, similar to his Paris showroom – dove grey drapes, a cascading staircase, and captivating chandeliers.

The Mayfair venue continues to contribute to the building’s heritage as a destination for experimentation. The site consists of The Lecture Room & Library; The Gallery, our gastro brassiere restaurant; the Glade, our enchanted forest restaurant; The Parlour, our neo-90s room; and the East Bar. Collaborating with multiple designers and artists, restaurateur Mourad Mazouz has created a unique and ethereal experience in each room.

Over the past twenty years, due to Mazouz’s commitment to art and design, the venue has hosted works by hundreds of artists – Chris Levine, Ron Arad, Carsten Nicolai, Jonas Mekas, Mary Ellen Bute, Tracey Emin, and Turner prize Winner, Martin Creed and Nominee, David Shrigley and Yinka Shonibare, as well as a raft of new and emerging talent.

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