Project information
Main contractor
Scott Evans – Coniston Ltd
Architect
N/A
The building
The German Ambassador’s Residence is a historic property located in the heart of Belgravia, London. As part of a full refurbishment project, the team was required to provide disabled access to the building – a challenge compounded by its listed status and the need to comply with Part M building regulations.
Previously, the residence had no suitable disabled access solution. With the refurbishment came a regulatory obligation to install an access lift that blended seamlessly with the original architecture, in line with heritage conservation standards.
Sesame was approached to design and install a discreet, modern access lift at the building’s side entrance – a tight space with very specific structural limitations.
The process
- Initial consultation: The client team, led by Facilities Manager Ralph Holzhauer from Diplo, contacted Sesame during the early stages of the refurbishment. The building’s listed status meant that any new system had to be virtually invisible when not in use and comply with strict planning requirements.
- Lift design: Sesame designers Karol and Andy developed a vertical retracting stairlift with two upper rising glass barriers. A horizontally retracting stairlift wasn’t feasible due to the layout of the entrance – there was simply no space to recess a stair mechanism without interfering with the building’s foundations. The chosen solution allowed for a fully functional lift that remained sympathetic to the property’s structure and appearance.
- Building the lift: Led by Les, Sesame’s install team – including Craig, Paul, Regis, and Andy – delivered the lift project in around 12–14 weeks. The final lift design included all of Sesame’s latest safety features, engineered to fit within a restricted footprint.
- Installation: The installation took place in 2024 and required careful coordination due to the property’s central London location. The lift was successfully signed off by Sesame’s Head Engineer, Andy, and was integrated seamlessly into the refurbished building, which is ready for long-term use.
Challenges
The Belgravia location posed typical inner-city access issues – limited offloading space, tight site access, and the need to deliver within strict time windows. Careful logistical planning ensured smooth delivery and installation phases despite the constrained urban environment.
A further challenge came from the nature of the building itself. With no space to install a horizontal stairlift and with foundation modifications off the table, the team had to develop a vertical lift that provided full accessibility without structural disruption – all while meeting heritage and safety standards.
Testimonial from the Sesame team
“This was a technically demanding but really rewarding project. We’re proud of how seamlessly it integrates into such a prestigious and historic building.”