Grosvenor Britain & Ireland has launched a call for designs to re-imagine Grosvenor Square, following the US embassy’s move from the square to Nine Elms, SW11, at the start of the year.
The landlord said the square, the second-largest in London, is perceived as “imposing and unwelcoming” and it hopes to transform it into “one of London’s leading squares”.
Grosvenor, which took over management responsibilities for Grosvenor Square in May, is inviting architects, placemakers, retailers and others to submit plans for the competition, chaired by Yana Peel, chief executive of Serpentine Galleries.
It is part of Grosvenor’s 20-year plan to transform its London estate, which includes investing £1bn in the next decade.
Last year, Qatari Diar, which bought the US embassy site in 2009, appointed Rosewood Hotels & Resorts to operate a 137-bedroom hotel in the building. Among its plans was opening up the area, removing existing security bollards and barricades to provide additional walkways.
Craig McWilliam, chief executive of Grosvenor Britain & Ireland, said: “Grosvenor Square should be a defining public space for London. However, from our research we know it has a low profile and that as a more welcoming and engaging space it would better reflect the capital’s character and appeal to a broad range of locals, visitors and Londoners.”
The independent panel for the competition includes:
- Yana Peel, chief executive, Serpentine Galleries (chair)
- Deborah Saunt, founding director, DSDHA
- Ed Ikin, head of landscape and horticulture, Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew
- Abhishek Lodha, managing director and chief executive, Lodha Group
- Ben Evans, director, London Design Festival
- Ricky Burdett CBE, professor of urban studies, London School of Economics
- Nicholas Kirkwood, designer, Nicholas Kirkwood
- Linda Hewson, creative director, Selfridges
To send feedback, e-mail karl.tomusk@egi.co.uk or tweet @ktomusk or @estatesgazette
