Hasta La Ideas

Architects including Adjaye Associates have presented ideas for the refurbishment of the Lancaster West Estate in London, site of the Grenfell Tower tragedy.

Cullinan Studio, Maccreanor Lavington, Murray John Architects, Levitt Bernstein and Penoyre & Prasad also contributed concepts to the report produced by Lancaster West Residents Association.

A book of ideas was created for each of the estate’s blocks along with a overarching report that covers the public walkways and communal areas.

The solutions suggested by architects were informed by a series workshops and ideas days, where residents of the estate were invited to raise problems and suggest potential improvements.

“These books are the next steps in our work with architects and the Council to design the future of the Estate,” said the Lancaster West Residents Association in the report.

“This work gives us a major voice on the future of our own homes. After the tragedy last June, this is fundamental step for residents to begin the process of rebuilding their lives.”

Kensington and Chelsea council has promised a resident-led project, with no demolition of people’s homes and residents’ ideas for improvements taken into account. The council has faced criticism for ignoring residents of the tower’s concerns that refurbishment work done before the fire had made it unsafe.

A report leaked earlier this month concluded that “deficiencies” introduced in the renovation work fuelled the deadly fire, which killed 71 people. The tower and the area immediately around it will remain a crime scene until the summer as the police investigation continues.

Of the £28 million promised by the British government to aide the recovery effort, £15 million has been set aside for the regeneration of the wider estate, which was built in the 1970s and is home to 1,000 households.

Issues to address in the refurbishment project identified in the report included poor accessibility and layout in individual flats, as well as problems with ventilation and damp.

Wider issues affecting the estate as a whole were also identified. These included flooding in the streets, a deficit of safety and security measures across the estate, and a lack of green spaces.

The architects responded with concepts tailored to specific parts of the estate, which has been separated into nine areas for the purpose of the refurbishment.

A proposal for re-landscaping of a pedestrianised street for Camelford Court includes raised flowerbeds and benches that could give ground floor flats privacy and produce a more pleasant environment. Another suggestion is for a small pavilion set in the green space surrounded by Talbot Grove House that could provide extra community facilities.

Ideas mooted for redesigning the entrances to some of the blocks suggested removing dark corners by opening them up to the street,  adding private gardens to some of the flats and adding key-fob secured gates. In the interim, the report suggested adding CCTV and extra lighting to heighten security before major works go ahead.

Internally, the layout of the flats could be re-worked to introduce open plan living and dining areas, as well installing new kitchens and bathrooms and general redecorating.

Double glazed windows would help with the damp and ventilation problems, although the report admitted that bigger problems with leaking pipes would be harder to fix. Overcrowding was also listed as an issue, although the architects suggested that extensions could be made at rooftop and basement level.

In the next part of the process, residents will be asked to select which designers they want to carry out the proposed plans.

Images sourced from Book of Ideas via Lancaster West Residents Association.

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