Oceanic House

TQ 2980 SE CITY OF WESTMINSTER COCKSPUR STREET, SW1. 82/30 No. 1 (Oceanic House)

G.V. II

Headquarters office block. 1903-06 by H. Tanner junior. Portland stone on steel frame, leaded roof. Interesting early Neo-Mannerist design with Greek and Baroque motifes. 3 main storeys but with a large boldly modelled "top hamper" of 3 storeys of attics. 5-window wide entrance front and 5-window splayed returns to Cockspur Street and Pall Mall East. Large square headed central doorway and full length windows to ground floor, architraved bronze casements to 1st and 2nd floors, where they are square, dominated by 3-bay centrepiece of giant 3-storey engaged column portico with Ionic capitals of modified Bassae-French neo-classical design; the outer bays, with "French" apron panels vertically linking windows, flanked by simplified Doric pilasters carrying entablature broken over portico where it is surmounted by balustrade. The 3 storeys of attics are of more complex design with 2 storey pedimented flanking aedicule pavilions surmounted by set-back attic storey with cornice and blocking course; the centre piece over portico is emphasised by a 2 storey full width rusticated "Diocletiant" and the attic storey rising above it with quoin pilasters has 3 keystoned oculi with balustraded parapet with pedimented central "Doric" panel crowning the whole. Return elevations similar but with pilaster giant order throughout instead of columns to first 3 storeys; slight mannerist variants to fenestration of outer bays and enclosed porches with corniced doorways to far ends.

Survey of London; Vol. XX.

Listing NGR: TQ2987580429