One hundred and forty-seven expressions of interest were received for the international, two-stage competition to design a new café for the Duke of York Square in the heart of Chelsea, London. The café site is positioned in a key part of the Square, adjacent to the main thoroughfare to The Saatchi Gallery and set slightly back from the King??s Road. While architects from 15 countries entered the competition, there was a marked London effect with seventy-six percent of submissions from 111 firms based in the capital. Among the applicants were five former winners of Building Design??s Young Architect of the Year award.
Hugh Seaborn, chief executive of the Cadogan Estate says: “We are delighted by the response to the competition; it??s very exciting to have attracted such a strong field of highly creative teams. We look forward to the shortlist with great anticipation.”
Malcolm Reading, who is managing the competition, comments: “This project is an excellent opportunity to make a lasting and high-profile contribution to a glamorous part of London. From past experience this is an exceptionally good turn-out; we appreciate teams working through the Olympics and the summer period to meet the deadline.”
The £2 million project will redevelop the existing café, designed by Block Architecture and currently run as a Gelateria Valerie, which has been a great success over the past ten years but which has been overwhelmed by demand. The original Duke of York development was masterplanned and designed by Paul Davis + Partners.
From the expressions of interest a shortlist of up to seven teams will be chosen to work-up concept propositions, for which an honorarium will be paid. The shortlist will be announced in September and the winner by early December.
