Bechstein Hall, designed by Door Nineteen as part of the restoration and redevelopment of 18–22 Wigmore Street, is London’s newest classical recital venue and a landmark fusion of cultural heritage and contemporary design. Reviving the legacy of C. Bechstein’s original London hall, seized during the First World War and later reborn as Wigmore Hall, this project brings the brand back to its historic roots in Marylebone.
Spanning three commercial floors below newly built residential apartments, the venue integrates a two-storey piano showroom, rehearsal and teaching studios, offices, a restaurant and bar, and a state-of-the-art 100-seat recital hall at its heart. The interiors, led by Door Nineteen, reflect a restrained elegance, combining natural materials, custom lighting, and finely detailed joinery to balance intimacy with formality. Across the building, rich timber panelling and soft acoustic finishes – such as the bespoke ‘Zen Embossed’ surfaces – create a warm, coherent material palette that supports both the visual and sonic experience.
The recital hall itself is designed for close connection between performer and audience. Angled wall and ceiling planes optimise the room’s acoustics in combination with a subtle electronic reinforcement system that allows the modestly sized space to perform like a much larger venue. The surrounding support spaces are equally considered, including control rooms for broadcast and recording, dedicated practice areas, and a front-of-house sequence that encourages lingering and socialising.
Public spaces, from the foyer to the bar lounge, are designed with tactile finishes, intimate lighting, and comfortable seating that invite relaxed use throughout the day. Every element contributes to a holistic vision: an urban cultural hub where refined interiors and world-class acoustics come together to honour the Bechstein name and enhance the concert-going experience in central London.
SCP Contracts worked closely with Door Nineteen to specify furniture for the project.
Product specified:
World One chair by Niels Diffrient for Humanscale
Beetle dining chairs by GamFratesi for Gubi
Summer Set folding tables by Christophe Pillet for Varaschin
In Between SK13 side table by Sami Kallio for &Tradition
Happen armchair by Rafa García for Sancal
Momic chaise by Rafa García for Sancal
Soft Pad EA 217 chairs by Charles & Ray Eames for Vitra
Hexa desk by Ramos Bassols for Forma 5
Agnes hall stand by Kay + Stemmer for SCP
Skala desks by Tandem Company for Forma 5
Quaranta5 unit by Fantoni
Afteroom bar stool by Afteroom for Audo Copenhagen
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