Three weeks after the U.K. government initiated plans to work with residents and bereaved families in a memorial for the Grenfell Tower, housing estate Lancaster West, where the tower is located, has announced a team of design firms that will collaborate with residents to redesign and renovate the entire estate. The six U.K. firms are Adjaye Associates, Cullinan Studio, Levitt Bernstein, Maccreanor Lavington, Murray John Architects, and Penoyre & Prasad. Landscape design practice Andy Sturgeon Design and engineering consultancy Twinn Sustainability Innovation will also collaborate on the project.
“Following the Grenfell Tower tragedy, there was clear recognition of the need to make real improvements around the estate,” the Lancaster West Residents’ Association wrote on a website created specifically for the rebuilding effort. The association will work with the Royal Borough of Kensington and Chelsea and the central government “to create a model estate for the 21st Century.” According to The Architect’s Journal, both the council and the central government have committed £15 million (around $21 million) to the project.
As part of the plans, Lancaster West published key promises to residents:
- The refurbishment will be resident led.
- All refurbishment work will be done sensitively and in co-operation with residents.
- There will be no demolition work of people’s homes on the Lancaster West Estate.
- We will create a model estate where the community can be proud to live and that the council can be proud to own.
- We will make sure residents can make real choices on the refurbishment.
- We will listen to all age groups and communities on what improvements they want to see.
- The refurbishment will aim to provide local jobs and skills training for local people.
- The refurbishment will improve local services so they are of a high quality.
- The refurbishment will create a sustainable estate that can be maintained to a high standard.
- There will be transparent decision-making and feedback provided by the council at each step.
Each of the six design firms has been allocated specific locations on the estate on which they will focus. Adjaye Associates will be responsible for Camborne Mews and Camelford Court; Cullinan Studio will lead Verity Close updates; Levitt Bernstein will be in charge of Morland House and Talbot Grove House; Maccreanor Lavington will review Treadgold House; and Penoyre & Prasad will focus on the Upper and Lower Camelford Walk, Lower Clarendon Walk, Clarendon Walk, Upper Clarendon Walk, and Upper and Lower Talbot Walk. All of the teams will collaborate on Barandon Walk, Hurstway Walk, and Testerton Walk. The tower site will be addressed separately.
Work is expected to begin in mid-2019.
