South Kensington Station, London
1998-ongoing

The scheme involves the reorganisation and refurbishment of South Kensington District and Circle line underground station and the air rights development above.

This is a landmark mixed use redevelopment for a challenging site, which includes a new station and public open space. The design is in keeping with the significance of the location and reflects the diversity that exists in the local area, including the Ishmali Centre, the Lycee and the Spiral (one of the projects within the Exhibition Road 'hundred acres.”) The scheme works at multiple levels and meets the needs of local and international users alike. It provides a multi-model transport interchange, modern retail, residential living space and prime new office accommodation

The station serves as the gateway to the world famous London museum and cultural district with up to 30 million passengers passing through the station each year. A new entrance to the museum subway tunnel with new retail and visitor facilities at lower ground level, and a new open space adjacent to the station entrance provide a public focus and identity for the area. The design has been fully tested with station planners, engineers and other stakeholders and upgrades existing facilities to comply with all current regulations. It offers a new ticket hall at street level with improved capacity for visitors and the local community; a large public orientation space providing a focus for South Kensington; an improved transport interchange co-ordinating the bus terminus; a fully accessible station with new escalator and lift access to all platforms; new fire escapes, fire fighting lifts and staircases and efficient passenger flow arrangements.

The new station will be made possible by the commercial development of the space above ground. To complement the station, there will be circa 200,000 sq ft of office space, a local food store and smaller retail units, and 125 residential units.

Two new primary uses are provided in addition to the station and retail at ground floor. These include the opportunity for the provision of a headquarters building via a 10 storey 200,000 sq. ft., contemporary glass office building.