GRADE II LISTED ‘SONS OF TEMPERANCE’ BUILDING TO BECOME FLAGSHIP STORE FOR ITALIAN FURTNITURE DESIGNER PIANCA

An iconic Edwardian building at 176 Blackfriars Road, which was once home to the sober order Sons of Temperance Friendly Society, has been purchased by Italian furniture designer Pianca with the potential of becoming their new London headquarters or a flagship store. The Grade II Listed building, built for the Sons of Temperance in 1910, provides 5,296 sq. ft. of office space and was successfully sold by leading South London estate agent KALMARs for £4.4 million (freehold).

176 Blackfriars Road was once the headquarters of the London Grand Division of the Sons of Temperance Friendly Society from 1910 to 2013, during the height of the group’s popularity, a brotherhood which encouraged a sober lifestyle and provided a community for London’s teetotallers. The renowned Italian designer Pianca, a family of ‘woodworking masters’ which has been designing furniture for 14 generations, has plans to potentially turn the office into new London headquarters or a flagship store.

The building was initially constructed in 1910, on the site of two terraced houses first occupied by Sons of Temperance in 1904. Designed by Arthur Charles Russell, an architect and honorary member of the Order, the property cost £5,400 to build at the time. The property bears the society’s name in striking decorative letters above grand pillars, as well as retaining original stained glass and mosaic roundels. Other features include ceiling heights of 3.5 metres and an emphasis on natural light throughout.

Having last been refurnished in 2014, the building provides office space and ancillary accommodation over five floors, with features including a small meeting room on each floor, solid wood floors and comfort cooling throughout. The property has two entrances, with kitchen facilities on each floor and two large conference rooms on the ground floor. Until recently, the property was being used by an architect’s office.