The former Gaumont cinema site on King’s Road has been reborn as a £235 million commercial and cultural centre with offices, 47 apartments, a rooftop bar, and a 600-seater Curzo
picturehouse.
The 220,000 sq ft mixed-use development at 196-222 King’s Road, known as The Gaumont, is local landlord Cadogan’s most extensive project since the Duke of York Square development 15 years ago.
It was designed by Belgravia-based architects Studio PDP, with construction led by Wates Group. The development also features retail units for independent creatives and an installation by London-based artist Shezad Dawood.
The site was home to the original 1930s Gaumont Palace Theatre, which has had its art deco facade renovated.
Cadogan CEO Hugh Seaborn said: “The purpose of this project has always been to reinvigorate King’s Road’s distinct character and contribute to its rich legacy, while seeing it enter a new era - from the independent ‘creative cluster’, cinema, major new public art commission to the beautifully restored façade.
“There are many other plans underway such as finding space for immersive cultural pop-ups, a ‘pub theatre,’ and the right new operator to keep institutions like the 151 Club alive. The Gaumont is a major part of a wider revitalization plan for one of the world’s most famous high streets.”
Matthew Jones, Studio PDP Architects, “This visionary project is poised to reshape this iconic shopping destination. We have built on the urban language of the road to create a rich, characterful elevation - it’s not just about the users of the building, it’s very much giving back to the people passing by, the local community, the pedestrians on the street. It’s an intelligent, mature, understated design, a much-needed addition to one of London’s most richly historic streets.”
Shezad Dawood said: ”I feel deeply connected to the area on various levels, from first seeing the Seven Samurai with my dad at the Chelsea Cinema as a kid, to one of my first jobs at a bookstore on the King’s Road – then of course there is the broader cultural importance of the area, as a home to various artists, writers, and filmmakers. As an artist who works across painting, ceramics, and film, I am so excited to be invited to create an artwork for the façade of such an iconic building that was also a key part of my cinematic education.”
The Gaumont is expected to open in phases, with the rooftop bar and retail units set to launch early next year, followed by the remaining spaces in the summer. The final phase of openings will coincide with the unveiling of the public art installation. Photo by Nigel Cox, Wikimedia commons.