600m² of innovative printed shrink-wrap for heritage restoration at the FCO.

Foreign and Commonwealth Office, Grand Staircase, Wraphix™ printed shrink-wrap for heritage restoration

As part of the latest restoration programme at The Foreign and Commonwealth Office in London, the Grade 1 Listed building is undergoing a number of projects to preserve the iconic London headquarters.

Within the Foreign Office, stands the Grand Staircase, a spectacle in its own right with a gilded ceiling and Sigismund Goetze murals surrounding the imperial staircase design.

This is the latest area being renovated by Interserve, following the identification of cracks in the ceiling in 2016. Tufcoat were contracted to provide printed shrink-wrap for heritage restoration.

Historic England

Coventry scaffolding erected scaffolding to access the ceiling and 18ft elaborately decorated dome as part of the work being carried out by Historic England.

With the offices of the Foreign Secretary and Fine Rooms which surround the staircase, the Facilities Management Client Unit (FMCU) requested that the project cause as little disruption to the office and blend in with the interior.

With the scaffold already erected, Coventry Scaffolding contacted us to provide printed shrink-wrap for heritage restoration of the scaffolding which was overlooked from corridors and staircases on three sides.

Printed shrink-wrap for Heritage Restoration

The concept to produce a trompe l’oeil building wrap was suggested by Coventry Scaffolding after seeing our previous project on the Grosvenor Hotel using our Wraphix™ Printed shrink-wrap for heritage restoration and the concept was approved by Interserve.

The first issue with reproducing three views over the staircase was that several tonnes of scaffold were already installed so photographs were taken of the opposite staircase and manipulated to remove the scaffold whilst determining an angle which wouldn’t disorientate people using the staircase.

With the images approved the shrink-wrap was printed and prepared for installation, to take place at a time to cause as little disruption as possible.

After stripping the white shrink-wrap from the scaffold the Wraphix™ Printed shrink-wrap for heritage restoration was aligned to key points on the staircase and installed over a 10 hour period.

Preserving the visual integrity of historic spaces

This project presented several challenges; not simply because of the complexity of the artwork and multiple perspectives but also due to the high-profile figures who regularly use the staircase and the significance of the building’s conservation.

Creating a wrap that seamlessly blended into such a detailed and ornate space required precise photographic capture, expert graphic editing and a meticulous installation process. The final effect not only concealed the temporary works but also preserved the building’s atmosphere, ensuring that the daily operations of the Foreign and Commonwealth Office continued with minimal visual impact.

A Commitment to Heritage and Aesthetics

At Tufcoat, we understand that restoration work on listed buildings must balance the technical requirements of construction with the sensitivity required in heritage settings. Our Wraphix™ printed shrink-wrap allows scaffolding to be concealed in a way that maintains the architectural integrity of historic environments, while still providing protection, containment and branding opportunities.

The success of this project further demonstrates how printed scaffold wraps are becoming essential for public-facing heritage work. It also showcases how digital tools, creativity and collaboration between contractors can create results that are both practical and visually sympathetic to their surroundings.

This installation at the Foreign and Commonwealth Office adds to our growing portfolio of heritage restoration projects where aesthetics are just as important as function, reinforcing our position as leaders in specialist shrink-wrap solutions.

Talk to our expert team to discuss your unique requirements and how we can work together to solve your challenges with printed shrink-wrap for heritage restoration.