Studio Ageli’s response to the brief started as a simple idea of rewilding the deck, and introducing a sculptural garden pavilion to house a restaurant. Since this earliest sketch back in 2021, the project has undergone significant development and several iterations through two public consultations, value engineering and a protracted planning process. Finally in May 2024, planning was granted, and the project is due to commence on site in Autumn 2025.
- We envisaged Brown Hart Gardens as an oasis of calm, a tranquil place in which to reconnect with nature and a lush green paradise to retreat from the city. The site is already a hidden gem, and we were immediately attracted by the idea of creating a natural space that teamed with life, improving the ecology and biodiversity in what is a very urban landscape.
- The Grosvenor Estate is currently developing Grosvenor Square into a more biodiverse garden – their aim is to connect it to Manchester Square via an enhanced public realm along Duke Street, and Brown Hart Gardens lies centrally along this axis, becoming an important green site within the area. The team was joined by renowned landscape designer and horticulturalist Nigel Dunnett, who is one of the world’s leading voices on innovative approaches planting design, and is also responsible for the new planting at Grosvenor Square.
- In line with sustainability principles, we are retaining as much of the existing building as possible, including the structure and glazing either side. The roof will be stripped back and re-clad in a visually lighter material than the existing building, and the edges softened. New curved and less cluttered glazing is proposed for the front. The curves will provide a softer feel than the existing, angular features of the cafe roof. The unattractive existing ‘box’ at the rear will be removed, with a more complete, unified envelope proposed. This provides a simpler form which gives greater weight to, and separation from, the existing dome, allowing it to better ‘breathe’. A key consideration of the design is the view of the restaurant from above, as many of the adjacent buildings, including those of residents, overlook the site – this is achieved with the metallic form, which reflects the sky and gently hovers over the restaurant and garden.
- Site history:
- Originally known as ‘Duke Street Gardens’ and laid out for dwellings in Brown Street and Hart Street, the building of a sub-station in 1902 led to the removal of the historic street level gardens. To reinstate the amenity, the Duke of Westminster commissioned a paved Italianate garden open to the public, featuring trees in tubs on top of the substation. Designed by architect Sir Stanley Peach in a Baroque style from Portland stone, and built in 1906, the deck sits above the old Duke Street electricity substation. It features a mannerist domed pavilion and steps at either end, a balustrade and Diocletian windows along the sides to light the galleries of the engine rooms, and deep basements.
- After a period of disuse, improvements to the gardens were completed in the summer of 2013 as part of a wider regeneration of this part of Mayfair, including resurfacing, drainage, a water feature by Andrew Ewing, planters, benches, a lift and compliant staircase. In addition, the existing café was installed at the western end of the gardens by BDP. Surrounding the site are Peabody flats built within the late 19th century and the Grade II listed Beaumont hotel, as well as the Grade II* listed Ukrainian Catholic Church built in a Romanesque style.
- Alongside Studio Ageli as Architect and Lead Consultant, the team includes: Dmitry Friedman (project manager), Gerald Eve (planning consultant), Kanda (communications agency), Alan Baxter Associates (structural engineer) Landscape Agency & Nigel Dunnett (landscape designer and planting), RBA (acoustic consultant), Caneparo Associates (transport and highways consultant), Donald Insall (heritage consultant), Greengage (ecologist).
- Photography: Michele Panzeri, all others by Studio Ageli
- Further project related images to follow.
