Banqueting House is the sole complete surviving building of the lost Royal Palace of Whitehall, which was largely destroyed by fire in 1698. Designed by Inigo Jones in 1622 and featuring Peter Paul Rubens’ world-famous ceiling, this Grade I listed masterpiece welcomed visitors back for a special six-week summer season.

Historic Royal Palaces tasked Unusual Projects with delivering the physical display infrastructure for a brand-new visitor experience creating engaging physical environments to house AV projections and setworks detailing 400 years of Stuart court drama, revolution, and the eventual destruction of Whitehall Palace.

Because Banqueting House is a Grade I listed structure, no fixings, fastenings, or modifications could be attached to the historic fabric, walls, or vaulted brickwork. Working closely with the Interpretation team at HRP, Unusual Projects engineered, fabricated, and installed bespoke, completely free-standing stage sets and display structures within the spectacular Undercroft and main hall.

We designed custom framework solutions that sit entirely independent of the building’s walls and pillars. These sets provided the perfect backdrop for immersive AV shows, illustrating key historical milestones—from extravagant royal masques and diplomatic affairs to the tragic execution of King Charles I in 1649.

Our stage sets were engineered to double as seamless projection surfaces. By aligning the digital content with the custom setworks, the visual narrative seamlessly wrapped around the vaulted architecture of the Undercroft. The display allowed visitors to feel truly surrounded by the story, including dramatic visual sequences depicting the Great Fire of 1698 where flames appear to engulf the surrounding space.

Every element was prefabricated off-site at our workshop and precision-fitted on-location using weighted, self-supporting bases and protective interfaces, ensuring zero impact on the historic fabric of the building.

The installation provided a striking, non-invasive framework that allowed HRP to transform the Banqueting House into an immersive storytelling hub for the summer opening. By combining sensitive heritage conservation principles with high-spec display fabrication, Unusual Projects helped bring London’s lost palace back to life without leaving a single mark on its surviving jewel.

Photo Credits to Historic Royal Palaces