Observatory Gardens

Location: Kensington, London
GDV: £35 million
Date: 1991-1994
Size: 75,000 sq ft

A ground breaking brief for the renewal of this former derelict Victorian street of red brick and stone terraced houses in the Campden Hill Conservation area, called for a double-edged design; to preserve the historic character and external appearance of the original houses, whilst creating 53 individual purpose built apartments with a newly constructed underground car park below. Housed within six 'blocks', each with its own front door, the new apartments' configuration cleverly retains the fine proportions of the original principal rooms.