Rem Koolhaas's practice chosen for radical restoration of grade II building in Kensington

The Office for Metropolitan Architecture has won the competition to restore the grade II-listed former Commonwealth Institute in Kensington, West London.

OMA won the competition ahead of Rafael Vinoly, Make, Caruso St John, Eric Parry and Rafael Moneo.

Sir Stuart Lipton of Chelsfield, the site's co-owner, said: 鈥淲e are delighted that OMA has been chosen as architects, and we feel sure that the practice will produce buildings complementing the innovative and bold spirit of the original designers.鈥�

Rem Koolhaas, director of OMA, said: 鈥淲e 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.鈥�

Foster + Partners was originally commissioned last April to redesign the Commonwealth Institute building as a luxury apartment scheme.

However, Chelsfield retendered the bid later in the year and Foster was not on the resulting shortlist.

Planning proposals will be drawn up before the end of the year.

Topics