Thomas Cubitt

Argentine Ambassador's Residence, Belgravia

At the midway point between Open House 2012 and 2013, it seems timely to feature one of the jewels in the Open House crown.

Embassy buildings come imposing and impenetrable. Even standing outside one can be intimidating.

However, this building had an early name that was nothing if not prosaic. “The Independent North Mansion” was the title of 49 Belgrave Square, one of Thomas Cubitt’s creations in his Belgravia masterpiece.

Before Picasso

The environs of Pimlico Tube Station can confuse the visitor. Roads splay off in an arbitrary arrangement. A sign indicates your exit to get to Tate Britain. It is eerily quiet.You move forward cautiously and weave round the curve of Bessborough Street. Wham bam; you are back in noisy London, with the thundering traffic of Vauxhall Bridge Road.

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