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Koolhaas wins competition to restore Commonwealth Institute
18 March, 2008
Rem Koolhaas and Reinier de Graaf of Dutch firm OMA are set to restore London’s iconic Commonwealth Institute building in Kensington, having beaten competition from architects including Rafael Viñoly, Eric Parry and Caruso St John.
BD revealed in January that six international names – also including Make and Rafael Moneo - had been shortlisted by developer Chelsfield Partners and its architectural adviser Ricky Burdett.
Chairman of the jury Paul Finch said this week that OMA had triumphed thanks to its “respect for the past and an attitude to the future which the jury found highly convincing”.
OMA will now have to devise a refurbishment design and a substantial new-build residential element which will fund the restoration of the original grade II* listed RMJM building.
Koolhaas said: “OMA was excited by the prospect of collaboration on the building and intended on taking a respectful approach to developing the sixties icon. We will explore a number of uses appropriate to the existing design, capitalising on the building’s dynamic interior spaces.
“Careful consideration will be given to the relationship with Holland Park, possibly extending the park across part of the site, removing the walls between the site and Holland Park and constructing a number of residential buildings.”
Stuart Lipton, deputy chairman of Chelsfield, added: “We are delighted that OMA has been chosen as architects, and we feel sure the practice will produce buildings complementing the innovative and bold spirit of the original designers.”
OMA’s London projects include a new headquarters for investment bank NM Rothschild & Sons in the City and the redevelopment of White City in west London. Rem Koolhaas, with engineer Cecil Balmond, was the architect of the Serpentine Gallery Pavilion in 2006.
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Readers' comments
Really impressed that types and styles of building not normally associated with conservation are now getting the attention they deserve. Without this they could all end up lost, rotting, rarities; spoken about with mysticism as if a half forgotten wrong turn in the history of architecture.
Good luck, OMA. This is a wonderful building which I have many fond memories of from school trips as a child. It will be wonderful to see it back in use. When it closed most of the collection went to form the British Empire & Commonwealth Museum in Bristol, who are now looking to move to London - it would be very fitting if they moved into the restored Commonwealth Institute!