Mason & Fifth Westbourne Park

Rob Parrish

• Architects

Mason & Fifth Westbourne Park is a new mixed-use development which transforms a brownfield site that was formerly home to the Licenced Taxi Drivers' Association Headquarters, into a vibrant new waterfront destination along the Grand Union Canal. The scheme aims to attract a new community of young creatives, entrepreneurs, artists, and professionals to West London.

Designed by AHMM, the project is formed of a family of buildings of varying scales, wrapped around an urban courtyard that opens up on to the canal. A new 332-key flexible living development with interiors designed by TiggColl anchors the scheme and includes an extensive amenity offering of social and work lounges, a communal dining space, listening lounge, screening room, and a wellness suite with a swimming pool, gym and movement studio. The scheme also provides amenities for the wider community, including co-working, affordable workspaces, a waterfront restaurant, and improvements to the public realm.

Stitching new architecture into the urban landscape

AHMM employed a contextually sensitive approach for the architectural design. While the development rises to 12 storeys at the centre, it steps down to four and five storeys to meet the adjacent buildings. The new architecture is stitched into the existing urban landscape and responds to the area's historical architecture and local vernacular through façade proportions, Crittall windows, and a varied material palette of brick, steel, and glazed green terracotta that reflects the faience found on nearby industrial and heritage buildings.

At the heart of the development a new pocket park has been created. Access to this urban courtyard is via a new public route from the residential street, through an archway with a reflective soffit which creates a visual reference to the adjacent canal, and opens up to the waterfront on Grand Union Canal. This space has been designed to benefit the local community, with activation at ground level and a tiered public area that can be used for performances and leisure activities.

photo_credit James Reteif — James Reteif

Creative interiors inspired by their surrounds

Interior architect TiggColl's design concept takes inspiration from the vibrant local area and its rich mix of neighbourhoods including Notting Hill, Ladbroke Grove, Portobello Road and Golborne Road. A material palette of undulating fabrics, muted lighting, textured tiles, natural wood, clay and marble reflects the eclectic urban landscape, and fosters a desirable ‘home from home’ experience for new and returning guests.

Layered textures in rich natural tones create a warm and inviting entrance lounge, with a rippling fabric canopy which weaves across the ceiling to create a sense of intimacy in the open plan reception space. Warm timber floors and a bespoke marble reception desk ground the space with an aspirational yet comfortable feel. Exposed concrete columns, soft layered lighting, and indoor foliage set the scene for this urban oasis.

On the tenth floor, a residents’ lounge looks directly on to the canal, and forms part of a 360 degree amenity space incorporating a shared kitchen and dining areas. A lowered timber and fabric textured ceiling creates an intimate space from which to admire the panoramic views of London, creating an elevated haven looking back over the city.

On the lower ground floor, a tranquil spa and wellness hub features curving, fluid lines to echo the movement of the canal outside. The combination of light porcelain and cool polished marble contrasts with deep green tiles and a wall of patinated mirrors. Large circular sky lights draw natural light into this lower ground space, while the swimming pool captures and reflects the light.