Arundel Great Court occupies one of London’s most sensitive and prominent riverside sites, overlooking the Thames immediately east of Grade I listed Somerset House. Its position at a bend in the river affords exceptional views across the capital, from Tower Bridge and Canary Wharf to the east, to the Houses of Parliament and the London Eye to the west. The site also forms part of important strategic views towards St Paul’s Cathedral, particularly from Waterloo Bridge.

Given the significance of its setting, the development required an extensive programme of historic research, townscape analysis and architectural study. The resulting masterplan establishes a contemporary interpretation of the traditional London court, creating a palace-like arrangement around a sequence of new public spaces. A new east–west route, arcades, colonnades and a landscaped central courtyard introduce permeability through the site while reinforcing its connection to the wider city.