The Parabola - Koolhaas does Kensington High Street

[PVC King]

A planning application has been lodged for the redevelopment of the Commonwealth Institiute site on Kensington High Street London W8 which has been empty for a long time.

The location Existing

http://www.theparabola-kensington.co.uk/location.php

The Building Existing

http://www.theparabola-kensington.co.uk/history.php

Proposed Footprint

http://www.theparabola-kensington.co.uk/developmentprinciples.php

The Proposal

http://www.theparabola-kensington.co.uk/the_parabola_book.pdf

The centrepiece will be the http://www.designmuseum.org/ Design Museum who are eager to move from their cramped space at Shad Thames SE1 to a larger space being provided free by the developers as a requisite level of planning gain.

There is much debate as to whether Koolhaas should be let loose in a setting such as Ken High St which features buildings such as Barkers http://www.londontown.com/LondonInformation/Shops/Barkers/2418/ or the Roof Gardens Building http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kensington_Roof_Gardens

I am in favour of this proposal as I think it is high quality

Any thoughts?

[PVC King]

A revised application has been submitted following consultation responses and members’ recommendations at RBKC’s Major Development Committee meeting in July. The heights of the residential buildings have been lowered to allow for enhanced views from Holland Park and Kensington High Street. The ground and first floors of the High Street Building have been altered to create greater openness. The landscape proposal has been completely revised.

http://www.theparabola-kensington.co.uk/index.php

[PVC King]

The revised scheme was granted consent subject to agreement of a development contribution; Jasper Conran's design museum should all things going well be open in mid 2012.