NEX has won the Cadogan Café design competition, a £2 million project for a new café, which will sit near the entrance to the Saatchi Gallery in Duke of York Square in Chelsea.
Widely regarded as an emerging force, NEX saw off strong opposition from finalists Architecture 00, Carmody Groarke, Duggan Morris Architects, Pernilla Ohrstedt & Sarah Price Landscapes and TaylorSnell.
The team’s winning design, an organic coiled form, features a roof terrace and incorporates an ingenious glass wall that rises and falls depending on the weather. Hugh Seaborn, Chief Executive of the Cadogan Estate said: “The Jury was won over by NEX’s design, which combines functionality with a sense of elegant self-containment – their building will be sleek as well as inventive and fun.
“We think it will intrigue passers-by and become a mini-landmark on the King’s Road. We look forward to working with the team as they develop their design for planning.”
Malcolm Reading, competition organiser and Chair of the Jury commented: ‘The Jury engaged in an architectural discussion with the teams that far exceeded the brief. This competition was exceptional in producing diverse, creative solutions but, nonetheless, we arrived at a unanimous decision.”
NEX Director Alan Dempsey said the practice was pleased to have won. “It was a challenging brief to respond to, and we were fascinated by the opportunity of mixing leisure and public realm uses in such a concentrated form.
“After thorough analysis, we were convinced that the best approach was an architecture which resonated with the architectural heritage of the site, while providing a contemporary space that has flexibility for year round use. This was the best competition we’ve entered and we are very much looking forward to working with the Cadogan Estate and designing in dialogue with them for a renewed café and Duke of York Square.”
Leading a team which included AKT II, Equals Cost Consultants, Atelier 10, DHA Design and The Enterprise Collective at the University of the Arts Chelsea, Nex will now work with the Cadogan Estate to develop their design for the new café.