Astor Reading Room

The Brief

A small literary society commissioned a complete renovation of a Georgian townhouse near Bloomsbury into a private members' library — a contemporary version of the great London clubhouses, but built for serious readers. The original house had been compartmentalized into offices and required substantial restoration.

Our Approach

We restored the proportions and reorganized the floors around a single grand double-height reading room with floor-to-ceiling walnut bookshelves on opposing walls. Deep forest green silk damask, cream marble fireplaces, brass library lamps with green glass shades. A café and private writing studies occupy the upper floors.

The Outcome

A library where members actually spend long afternoons reading. The fireplace burns from October through April. The autumn light through the London plane trees outside is itself part of the architecture. The wait list to join is now longer than the membership.