Calpe House
Calpe House was a unique project for Mayer Construction and a privilege to work on. Though our team works across a wide range of super prime properties, it’s not often that we get the chance to create a new residence to act as the heart of a respected charity. At the end of our endeavours, we had restored the Grade-II listed property on Norfolk Square to its former glory.
The Calpe House Charitable Trust is a Gibraltar charity, run by the Gibraltar government, that brings ill residents to London for treatment, such as chemotherapy. These people would otherwise not be able to access the vital healthcare they need, as there are fewer provisions in Gibraltar and the cost of moving to the UK is often prohibitive.
Calpe House acts as a convalescent home for these people and therefore needed to offer a high standard of care. We were tasked with restoring the highly run-down property into a modern, comfortable building that reflects its heritage.
Restoration work
This was no easy task. Built around 1880, Calpe House had fallen into significant disrepair. The original stone staircase had collapsed and many original features were almost lost to poor care. However, as a Grade-II listed building, gaining planning permission to modernise the property took close negotiation with the council throughout.
Mayer Construction began restoration work in the summer of 2017 and finished in July 2018, within the parameters of a very strict timeframe. By balancing the needs of the client, the council and the architect, we were able to create a beautiful modern building that not only celebrates its history but provides the modern facilities that the resident patients need.
A notable success was the restoration of the original stone staircase and ceilings. We called in specialists to create the staircase, which was lowered into place section by section using a niko rail despite the site’s restricted access. Adding three lift shafts to the property also required close negotiation with neighbours, as well as road closures.
Overall, the client is extremely happy with the property, which opened as a convalescent home in July 2018. Its inauguration was attended by the Governor of Gibraltar, highlighting its prominence in Gibraltar’s healthcare programme.
