The Kensington Building

The Kensington Building, designed by Pilbrow & Partners, stands prominently at the corner of Kensington High Street and Wrights Lane, directly adjacent to High Street Kensington Underground station. Originally built in the 1970s, the building has been transformed into a flagship mixed-use development, featuring flexible office space, vibrant ground-floor retail within a new arcade, and 12,329 sq ft of accessible outdoor terraces designed by Gillespies.

Working with client AshbyCapital, the proposals aim to enhance the public realm along Kensington High Street and Wrights Lane — improving connectivity and accessibility to the station while grounding the development in its prestigious urban setting. Gillespies’ design delivers high-quality paving, raised linear planters, and a mature Quercus palustris tree, which provides a striking focal point at the arcade’s main entrance.

At the heart of the scheme is a trio of elegant roof gardens on the third, fourth, and fifth floors. These beautifully planted terraces extend the building’s internal floorplans, offering peaceful outdoor spaces for meetings, events, and day-to-day relaxation. By providing access to fresh air, natural light, and greenery, the gardens create an environment that improves wellbeing, creativity and productivity. 

The terraces are carefully arranged to accommodate a range of activities — from intimate meeting spots to a spacious paved area on the fifth floor with wrap-around seating for larger gatherings. Clipped hedges and informal grasses in raised planters soften the architecture and add seasonal interest, while the planting design creates a cohesive identity across all three levels.

A lightweight sedum roof in the southwest corner enhances biodiversity and helps filter pollutants, contributing to the building’s sustainable credentials.