In London, RH is opening a megastore in an 18th-century Palladian building

In line with the strategy adopted by the group across all its locations, the London gallery has been designed to be a leisure destination that engages the public. The experience begins at the entrance, which features display cases dedicated to four great figures who have inspired the brand: Vitruvius, Leonardo, Inigo Jones and, of course, Palladio, with rare original editions of their works. Palladio is represented by a 1715 English edition translated by the architect Leoni.

A panoramic glass lift takes visitors from the ground floor up to the attic, offering views of the various rooms on each floor. Alternatively, visitors can climb the original 18th-century staircase, with its restored wrought-iron balustrades.

On the ground floor, what was once the Bank of England’s main hall has been transformed into a high-end restaurant, helmed by chef Marcus Ware, who was recruited from New York, where he earned several Michelin stars. Further up is The Perch, created by designer Anouska Hempel, a bar and restaurant on the open-air terrace. The hospitality facilities also include a bar for wine and champagne tastings and a tea room.

RH, which stands for Restoration Hardware, was founded in 1979 by Stephen Godon in California and, over the years, has focused on ultra-luxury design that emphasises comfort and carefully selected materials and accessories. Now led by Gary Friedman, the group opened its first showroom in Europe in 2023, in a villa listed by the Department of Cultural Heritage in the Oxfordshire countryside. Since then, the brand has embarked on a phase of rapid expansion, opening RH Paris on the Champs-Élysées and RH Milan on Corso Venezia in the historic palace of the Prince of Piombino.

The opening of RH London marks a key step in this journey towards internationalisation, explains Friedman, the group’s chairman and CEO: “This extraordinary building has enabled us to create a destination that goes beyond mere retail, where architecture, design and hospitality come together to create a unique experience. RH London pays tribute to the building’s extraordinary history whilst simultaneously writing its next chapter – which is also ours.”