Commonwealth Institute

The former Commonwealth Institute in Kensington is a Grade II
listed building and landscape. Comprising three high-end residential blocks and the refurbishment of the Commonwealth Institute as a public building, the landscape is attributed to Dame Sylvia Crowe.

In the early stages of the design, West 8 was appointed to explore the existing derelict landscape and investigate how the residential developments should be positioned in order to create a harmonious relationship with the existing tent-like building.

The concept design for the externals involved exploring edge treatments, surface treatments, the relationship with Holland Park to the north of the site and issues relating to visual and physical access onto the site. OMA’s approach was to place three residential blocks within the site as well as maintain public use of the former Commonwealth Institute. Solutions were provided for pedestrian and vehicular access and circulation, as well as integrating public and private access at both ground and subterranean level through the underground car park. The design and concept were further developed with the integration of birch trees on the site.