Television Centre
Reimagining the famous Television Centre as a place for everyone
London, UK
The iconic BBC Television Centre in West London has been transformed into a mixed-use development with a generous and vibrant setting by Gillespies. For the first time in BBC's history, the site is open to the public, reconnecting the area with surrounding communities after many years of being inward-looking.
Television Centre (TVC) was the UK’s first purpose-built television studio and served as the home of the BBC from 1960 until its closure in 2013.
In 2011, a team led by Stanhope and Mitsui Fudosan won the bid to acquire the site and partnered with the BBC and the London Borough of Hammersmith and Fulham (LBHF) to reimagine its iconic buildings and Graham Dawbarn’s distinctive 1949 ‘question mark’ masterplan.
Television Centre has evolved into a vibrant mixed-use development. The scheme, designed by Allford Hall Monaghan Morris, includes office and studio space for the BBC, private residential homes with gardens, a boutique hotel, and a range of entertainment and leisure facilities — all set within an extensive, high-quality public realm by Gillespies.
Gillespies led the public realm design at Television Centre, transforming this once-inward-looking broadcasting complex into a vibrant, open, and welcoming urban environment. Our design for the public realm reconnect the site with its wider context, creating a legible and inclusive network of streets, squares, and gardens that reflect the site's rich history while supporting city life.
The forecourt, once a utilitarian drop-off space, has been reimagined as a contemporary rendition of a London garden square — a generous, animated space defined by layered planting, trees, seating, and active frontages. It now provides a bold new arrival experience and a lively threshold between the city and the development.
At the heart of the scheme, the Helios Courtyard has been sensitively revitalised into a central public plaza. The iconic bronze Helios statue has been reinstated as a focal point, framed by elegant planting that softens the space and complements the original circular form of the building. A public route flows through the plaza, linking key destinations across the site and drawing people into its core.
Nestled between the Helios and the newly constructed Crescent Building, a private landscaped courtyard offers residents a secluded and tranquil oasis. Here, they can sit, relax, and enjoy the naturalistic swathes of vibrant planting that change with the seasons. The gentle curvature of the landscaping is inspired by the waves of information that have been transmitted for half a century from the Television Centre.
The Television Centre demonstrates the transformative power of landscape architecture in urban areas, enriching city life by providing access to beautiful spaces and nature where stories can unfold.
"I was very impressed with the team at Gillespies and their creative response to the brief, in particular their awareness of the positive implications of the project on the wider area which has helped in unlocking the potential of the site."
Ron German, Project Director, Stanhope
"The opportunity to work on Television Centre has given us unprecedented access to a truly remarkable and unique environment. As the first purpose-built home of television broadcasting, this complex of buildings became synonymous with the news stories and popular entertainment shows that helped define the latter half of the 20th century. There can be few places that are held in such warmth and affection by the nation, and, as a team, we were therefore mindful from the start of our responsibility to handle this site with care. Yet this is a project about new beginnings, and much of our work has been to create and shape external spaces within the historic fabric that will engage with the people who will now call this place home."
Stephen Richards, Partner, Gillespies
Award
Year
World Architecture Festival Finalist: Masterplanning — Future Projects
2015
Hammersmith Society Environmental Award 2018
2018
AJ Architecture Awards - Mixed Use Project of the Year
2018
RIBA Regional Award
2019
RIBA National Award
2019
AJ Architecture Award - Landscape Architecture Project of the Year
2019
Place of the Year, Pineapple Awards
2021
Project details
Title
Television Centre
Client
Stanhope and Mitsui Fudosan
Status
Complete
Project team
AHMM
Gillespies team
Stephen Richards, Paul Winton, Giacomo Guzzon
Photography
John Sturrock
