Around the front of the original building at street level there is a number of decorative tiles showing famous racing cars of the time that used Michelin tyres.

The Michelin company's close association with road maps and tourism is represented by a number of etchings of the streets of Paris on some of the first-floor windows.

The patents were due to expire in the autumn of 1904, and in anticipation of this, Michelin opened an office in Tavistock Place, South Kensington.

Later that same year, a piece of land bordered by Fulham Road, Sloane Avenue, Leader Street and Lucan Place was purchased freehold from Cadgan and Hans Estate Co. Work on a design for the building had already begun and on 4 April 1910, the final designs for Michelin House were completed.

The ferro-concrete system offered great benefits for the construction of clear open spaces (ideal for storing tyres in the most efficient way).

It also offered fire resistance properties which were very important when storing large quantities of highly flammable tyres.

[1] It was designed and built at the end of the Art-Nouveau period; parts of this style can be seen in the decorative metal work at the front of the building above the fitting bays, and the tangling plants round the tyre motifs at the front and side of the building, and also in the mosaic in the entrance hall.

Despite this, Michelin House is very much like an Art-Deco building, the popular style of the 1930s with its prominent roadside position and its strong advertising images and symmetry.

Fitting bays at the front of the building allowed motorist to have their tyres speedily changed by Michelin fitters from the stock of over 30,000 stored in the basement.

To the left of the front recipient, a 'Touring Office' provided maps and writing implements for the keen motorist to plan his or her journey.

Within a year of opening, work started on an extension to the building to provide additional office space and included a second floor.

The factory started producing the first British made Michelin tyres and in 1930, the company moved their head office to Stoke-on-Trent.

The programme went along with the general taste of the time, dividing the open plan office and making much use of wood panelling.

Despite this, outline planning permission was granted to demolish all but the listed part and build a ten-storey office block.

[3] Conran and Hamlyn set up Michelin House Developments to redevelop the building, to include a major retailing store, restaurant, bar and large office space.

In November 1985, Conran Roche and YRM, the architects and designers placed in charge, made an application for planning permission to increase the existing floor area from 90,000 to 118,000 square feet (11,000 m2).

After a long search, suppliers were found, and replicas of the windows and cupolas were made using original drawings, photos and posters.

[4] As part of the centennial, Michelin has renewed its efforts to find the original stained glass windows.