OMA: plans for the commonwealth institute approved

revised plan for commonwealth institute by OMA

plans by the office for metropolitan architecture (OMA) for a new location for the design museum and new housing on the site of the former commonwealth institute on kensington high street were approved yesterday by the planning committee of the royal borough of kensington and chelsea.

the scheme was submitted to kensington and chelsea in april 2009 and revised in august 2009 after having been challenged by various conservation groups. the revisions include a rescaling of the three residential blocks and a change to the alterations for the interior of the existing exhibition building.   the commonwealth institute has stood empty and been closed to the public since 2002. in 2006, the grade II listed building (one of the highest protection ratings possible in the UK), was threatened with demolition after a (failed) government proposal to delist it.   OMA’s design seeks to save the building by re-injecting life into the modernist monument while retaining its distinctive copper roof and parabolic form. three new residential buildings will integrate into the fabric of the site, and aim to create a boost for the western end of kensington high street.   the move will give the design museum three times more space than its current home on the south bank. deyan sudjic, director of the design museum, said: ‘we are thrilled with the outcome, which now opens the way for the design museum to realise its vision of becoming a world-leading creative centre for design and architecture’.   aerial view of site