Holland Green and the Design Museum

In a very particular project, designed by Rem Koolhaa’s OMA, three luxury housing blocks had partly fund the new Design Museum – the old Commonwealth Institute. Regarded as an important building by the English Heritage, the idea behind the project was to explore a new usage for the main exhibition hall and replace the administrative wing and develop it from a residential point of view. The project sits at the southern end of Holland Park and occupies an area of 30.000 m2. A major reconfiguration of the building, with a massive architecture transformation and enhancement, had achieved a new set museum that definitely merits recognition. The new façade allows dramatic views of all levels to visitors, and a coherent series of volumes with clearly defined circulation areas was achieved with success, while being able to retain its distinctive copper roof and parabolic form, which required significant engineering skill from Arup and the contractor, Mace. Effisus weatherproofing solutions and Consulting Services have been integrated throughout the project, aiming to maximize the building’s energy efficiency and air quality.