The roaring twenties in Wallis House

Flapper dancers and a Charleston orchestra performing vintage classics provided the entertainment at the recent launch of the Art Deco style foyer in Wallis House, a Barratt West London restoration project, part of the regeneration of Great West Quarter, Brentford.

Peter Dorelli's world famous Martini and Manhattan cocktails, an oyster bar and mouth-watering high society cuisine combined for an immersive experience of the Roaring Twenties. Guests were even conveyed between the marketing suite and the foyer in an authentic 1920s' bus.

The Mayor of Hounslow, Andy Morgan-Watts, was among those celebrating the completion of Wallis House's new foyer, on which work had begun in January 2007. The launch of the foyer was also the first opportunity for Barratt to exhibit Wallis House's two show apartments, including a stunning one-bedroom apartment and an innovative studio.

The new foyer takes its inspiration from the original Art Deco foyer, which was removed in the 1960s. Though photographs of the original entrance were available, the exact specifications were difficult to establish and, in preference to an approximation or pastiche replica, the new two-storey glazed entrance was instead designed as a contemporary interpretation of the building's Art Deco heritage.

After narrowly escaping demolition in 1993, Wallis House, on which building work commenced in 1936, has been subject to the fierce protection of The Twentieth Century Society. Wallis House is one of the three remaining original buildings along what was known, in its heyday, as ‘The Golden Mile.'

As Andrew Storey, managing director of Barratt West London, commented in his speech, "Our vision when we purchased this site five years ago was to restore this fabulous listed building to its former glory and to incorporate it into a large scale regeneration scheme."

Barratt engaged in thorough discussion with all stakeholders to ensure Wallis House retained its sense of history throughout the regeneration process - indeed, representatives from the Twentieth Century Society and the Brentford and Chiswick Local History Society were present at the event - whilst still fully integrating within the new community of the Great West Quarter and the wider environs of Brentford.

Though Wallis House is an impressive reminder of times gone by, the apartments themselves embody modern sophistication and contemporary pragmatism. The one-bedroom apartment features an efficient home office space adjoining the living room.

When the Great West Quarter is completed, it will include around 800 new homes, expansive green spaces, a piazza, hotel, restaurants, offices, a nursery, health and fitness centre and even an art gallery. Property buyers are finding Wallis House an attractive investment and the first phase of the development is already more than 75% sold.

Studio apartments in Wallis House are available from £225,000.

One-bedroom apartments are available from £285,000. Two-bedroom apartments are available from £399,995. Visit Barratthomes.co.uk further information.