Grosvenor Square

Grosvenor Square (pronounced " Grove - ner Square" ) is a place with greenery in the affluent Mayfair district of London. He is the center of Mayfair estates of the Dukes of Westminster and is named after her surname, " Grosvenor ".

History

Sir Richard Grosvenor obtained a license in 1710, Grosvenor Square and the adjoining streets to develop, which was begun in 1721. Grosvenor Square was from the beginning one of the most desirable residential addresses in London; until the Second World War, lived there many leading members of the nobility.

The early buildings were generally of five or seven bays, basement, three storeys and an attic. Behind all four sides of the square there were stables.

Many of the buildings have been built in the 18th or 19th century later, where they generally received an additional basement. Number 26 was from 1773 to 1774 by Robert Adam for Edward Stanley, 11th Earl of Derby, rebuilt and is considered one of the best works of this architect and as an example of how on limited floor space a large effect can be achieved. It was demolished in the 1860s and rebuilt.

The park in the center of the square, originally intended for the residents, was standard for a London square; Today, the public park by The Royal Parks is managed. Nearly all buildings were demolished and replaced with apartment buildings in neo- Georgian style, hotels and embassies in the 20th century.

American presence

Grosvenor Square is traditionally the site of the official American representative in London since President John Adams in 1785 the first American Mission has set up in the British royal court. During the Second World War, Dwight D. Eisenhower established a military headquarters in Grosvenor Square No. 20, and during this time the Grosvenor Square was jokingly called the " Eisenhower Platz". The United States Navy uses this building continued as the headquarters for Europe and West Africa.

The former U.S. embassy in Grosvenor Square from 1938-1960 was purchased by the Canadian government, renamed Macdonald House and is part of the diplomatic mission of Canada in London.

The new building for the U.S. Embassy is on the west side of Grosvenor Square, an architecturally significant design by Eero Saarinen, was completed in 1960. The construction is controversial, as this district of London is otherwise determined by Georgian and neo- Georgian architecture. Since 2001, a number of anti -terrorist elements around the embassy were installed, and the road along the face side of the embassy was completely closed to traffic. Residents of the Embassy believe that this is insufficient and throw the British government and police before, they put the risks of an attack from. 2006 off the residents of the citizens' initiative Grosvenor Square Safety Group ads in the Washington Post and The Times, in which they " moral failure " accused, if not also the two roads would be closed next to the Embassy of the London Metropolitan Police and the district government.

There are now plans for a new building and relocation of the U.S. embassy.