Chelsea Court is an Edwardian apartment building on Chelsea Embankment, overlooking the River Thames. Converted into small studio flats for over 55’s in the 1980’s, the facilities and accommodation needed full modernisation and replanning to make homes suitable for older people in the 21st century. The residents were engaged through a series of design workshops, leading to the planning application. The building has been reconfigured to improve flat layouts, creating new one bedroom flats instead of studios, wheelchair accessible flats, and new communal spaces.
A new single storey extension at Ground Floor creates a welcoming entrance and reception area. The communal spaces have been carefully planned to cater for both social engagements and more private settings, with a kitchen and communal dining room, and lounge which overlook the landscaped garden.
The design and domestic material choices aim to create a sense of familiarity and comfort, encouraging residents to make the most of the facilities available to them; an inviting extension of home.
Each flat has improved kitchen and shower room, mechanical ventilation with heat recovery, and double glazed windows (replaced under a separate contract). The colour scheme for each floor is different, to aid navigation. Front doors to each flat have a shelf outside for tenants to personalise, and recognise, their home. Communal spaces also include a laundry, a mobility scooter store and two guest rooms for visitors to stay. All services and fire precautions have been renewed. The roofs, dormers and mansards have had slate and lead finishes replaced, and insulation and ventilation added.
