The Entrance Hall, Eltham Palace

The entrance hall is a dramatic, top-lit, circular room. It is a true architectural showpiece of the Courtauld’s. The circular rug is a recreation of the original, designed by Marion Dorn, which was originally designed to complement the walls and the echo the lines of the furniture and the plan of the room. Off the entrance hall to the left and right are gentlemen’s and ladies cloakrooms. There are glazed double-doors that lead into the entrance hall, and the up-lit domed roof allows light to pour into the space. The interior was designed by Swedish architect and designer Rolf Engstömer. The panels on either side of the door represent the southern and northern limits of European civilisation: a Roman soldier and a Viking against the background scenes from Italy and Scandinavia.