Living with history

The OWO: one history, many ways to live

Behind a monumental London façade, the interesting differences are inside the homes.

The Residence List · 10 October 2026

85individual private homes

Rafflesresidential hospitality

A home across the courtyard

The OWO describes 85 private homes in a building across the courtyard from the Raffles hotel. The residential and hotel experiences meet, but they are not interchangeable. Begin with that spatial distinction: a shared address can still contain a separate rhythm of arrival and everyday life.

Two readings of a historic interior

The show-residence collection offers a useful comparison. The developer describes a Sims Hilditch interior through a British countryside sensibility. In a Banda-designed duplex, living spaces and terraces sit above the bedroom level. These are examples of individual residences, not a standard specification for all 85 homes.

What character means in daily life

With an older building, the attraction often lies in the unexpected: an unusually placed window, a change of ceiling height, a room that refuses to become a perfect rectangle. Read a plan with furniture in mind. Where does a dining table fit without interrupting the route? Can a study remain quiet when friends arrive? Character becomes valuable when it works with your habits.

Compare homes, not photographs

For a first visit, choose two contrasting layouts. Follow the same sequence in each: entrance, kitchen, evening room, bedroom. Ask to see the actual view and the residents’ route to shared facilities. The point is to move beyond selecting a decorative style from a brochure, and discover which version of the building feels naturally yours.