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Chelsea Barracks Master Plan, London_UK

‘Mirrors for the Park’

Chelsea Barracks master plan was a competition to design a landmark sustainable residential community on the borders of Chelsea and Belgravia on a site that has been previously occupied by military barracks. The design concept takes inspiration from the large scale green setting of Renelagh Gardens and the boulevard of Chelsea Bridge Road. The plan establishes a strong building frontage along this primary address within

an appropriate urban scale and height. Layers of parallel buildings rise to the north east creating a harmonious sequence and development ‘backdrop’ for the local landscape. High-performance glass buildings with smooth reflective surfaces ‘mirroring’ the green elements of the neighboring streetscape and park space deep into the site. Varying levels of transparency, translucency and reflectivity ‘blur the edges’ and definition between development form and landscape form.
Differing atmospheric light throughout the day, week and yearly seasons will create a dramatic, ever- changing environment for visitors and residents alike.

  • [location] London_UK
  • [status] Invited International Competition in 2008
  • [program] Residential development
  • [client] Quinlan Private
  • [architect] Skidmore Owings & Merrill
  • [role] Project Architect: Ilaria Di Carlo
  • [graphics] Images courtesy of SOM. All rights reserved
Chelsea Barracks Master Plan, London_UK

‘Mirrors for the Park’

Chelsea Barracks master plan was a competition to design a landmark sustainable residential community on the borders of Chelsea and Belgravia on a site that has been previously occupied by military barracks. The design concept takes inspiration from the large scale green setting of Renelagh Gardens and the boulevard of Chelsea Bridge Road. The plan establishes a strong building frontage along this primary address within

an appropriate urban scale and height. Layers of parallel buildings rise to the north east creating a harmonious sequence and development ‘backdrop’ for the local landscape. High-performance glass buildings with smooth reflective surfaces ‘mirroring’ the green elements of the neighboring streetscape and park space deep into the site. Varying levels of transparency, translucency and reflectivity ‘blur the edges’ and definition between development form and landscape form.
Differing atmospheric light throughout the day, week and yearly seasons will create a dramatic, ever- changing environment for visitors and residents alike.