To begin, we captured the entire ceiling using advanced architectural scanning with Matterport — a state-of-the-art 3D system that allowed us to create a scale-accurate digital survey. This provided an exact, immersive model of the ceiling’s form and condition, supporting clear communication between engineers, conservation officers, and ourselves.

Thanks to this 3D ceiling documentation, we could plan ceiling modifications in detail without disrupting protected features — saving time and cost during the replication phase.

Once surveying was complete, we identified safe sections of plasterwork for removal. These were used to create rubber squeeze moulds to replicate the ceiling’s original detailing. From these we recreated:

• Ornamental ceiling casting

• Decorative cornice reproduction

• Relief mouldings for listed buildings

All plaster elements were produced in-house, using traditional fibrous plaster techniques adapted to meet the needs of a listed building ceiling restoration.

In close collaboration with conservation officers and services engineers, we adjusted the new ceiling mouldings to include:

• Plasterwork with integrated technology for invisible airflow and acoustic enhancements

• Lighting integration into ceiling cornices, preserving appearance while enabling modern retail functionality

• Ventilation routes incorporated into historic plaster detailing, with no visible disruption

This careful blending of modern services in heritage architecture ensures the ceiling supports today’s requirements while maintaining an authentic aesthetic.

The result is a visually seamless, functionally modern ceiling that honours its past. The reproduction plaster mouldings match the original profiles exactly, while subtle design tweaks allow the space to meet the technical demands of a high-end retail interior.

Next time you visit Covent Garden, grab a coffee from Nespresso, look up, and admire how traditional craft and digital innovation came together — right above the performers in the square.