20 Dec 2019

The 12 Milestones of 2019

Dear friends of Chelsea Barracks,

December is upon us, and for all those who have been following our activity in 2019, you will know this has been an exceptionally busy year both on the Estate and off. With our first residents moving in and a calendar of events, we take a look back at some of the year's highlights.

The Show Residences

Barracks will have seven furnished show residences in total, five residences and two Townhouses. The first of these was revealed in September of this year – ‘STEEL’ – a concept conceived by London based award-winning design firm Elicyon.

Chelsea Barracks has always sought to honour its heritage, taking immense pride in its sense of place. And when it came to interiors, this spirit of legacy was formative in the creation of rooms of great beauty and distinction. Elicyon were inspired by the development’s iconic military heritage.

Weaving delicate military details into the design, inspired by infantry uniforms and artillery, this residence subtly honours the heritage of the former 12.8-acre Barracks. Set against an ivory base, ‘STEEL’ experiments with a colour palette of various shades of blue - from pale midnight to shades inspired by the Chelsea Pensioners' navy undress uniform. At every touch point, Elicyon have considered the context, creating a most intriguing and genuinely authentic interior that reflects the unique positioning of this residence, overlooking Royal Hospital Chelsea.

The remainder of the residences will be revealed throughout 2020, stay tuned...

Grand Opening of the Garden Squares

Out of reach for over 150 years, Chelsea Barracks opened for the first time to the public in May of this year to reveal the first of the seven garden squares.

Two of the seven Chelsea Barracks garden squares – Mulberry Square and Bourne Walk – were initially revealed, aptly coinciding with the historic Chelsea Flower Show.

To mark the occasion, landscape architect Neil Porter of Gustafson Porter & Bowman, tasked with the permanent planting strategy for Chelsea Barracks, worked with four-time RHS Chelsea gold medal, Jo Thompson, to create two floral spectaculars. A mixture of native flowers and culinary plants delighted the senses, creating the ultimate haven in the heart of London for a leisurely amble.

Whistler Square was revealed in November of this year, to coincide with the launch of the new Conrad Shawcross sculpture, Bicameral. The grandeur of this square can now be admired fully and as the trees mature and the plants thrive passers-by will no doubt drift from the Pimlico Road and circulate through the squares of Chelsea Barracks.

The Chapel Trust

Today the Grade II Listed Garrison Chapel sits at the centre of one of the world’s most exclusive neighbourhoods, but this fortuitous destiny is a long way from the chapel’s humble beginning. Built in 1859 as part of the army barracks, the Garrison Chapel served the military community who were stationed and lived at Chelsea Barracks until the 1960s.

As one of the first chapels in a London barracks, it was heralded for the significant improvements it brought to the moral well-being of the those who lived there. Garrison Chapel was the heartbeat of the barracks community and a pivotal part of Chelsea Barracks’ identity for over 100 years. The passage of time can only change so much - as lovingly as the bricks and mortar have been restored, now too will the buildings honourable heritage. This revival will be down to the Garrison Chapel Trustees; Richard Oakes, Henry Bickerton, Lucy Elphinstone, Cllr Murad Gassanly and Cllr Elizabeth Hitchcock, who will together endeavour to use the Chapel to promote connectivity within the community, promote the arts, education and culture, aid charitable causes and ensure that Garrison Chapel contributes once again to the Chelsea Barracks community and beyond.

Welcoming the First Residents

In November 2019, Chelsea Barracks welcomed its first residents, a huge milestone for the development. Over a decade after the site was purchased from the Ministry of Defence, and after many years of deliberation and subsequent building works, the result is magnificent. The residents of Chelsea Barracks will be custodians for this new estate, and it is a delight to see these buildings become homes.

The Final Barracks Book - Legacy

Following the unique story of Chelsea Barracks, ‘The Barracks’ series forms an exclusive collection of books that document the life of this unrivalled development. Published with the aim of sharing the stories behind the scheme, each edition focuses on a theme central to the neighbourhood and explores the various elements that define Chelsea Barracks. The most recent edition, which will be published in January 2020, is entitled ‘Legacy’.

In Chelsea Barracks the expression ‘it takes an army’, couldn’t be more appropriate. A team of peerless architects, landscape architects, designers, craftspeople, developers, contractors and master-planners, have delivered an entirely new neighbourhood in London. Together this army of people have reintroduced 12.8 acres of isolated land masterfully into the rest of Belgravia, erasing the boundary of the barracks and creating a new legacy for London, one that will do justice to the prestigious surrounds of this iconic site.

Chelsea Barracks will now become people’s home, where legacies will be built amongst the magnificent garden Squares. Throughout this book we meet with the incredible talents that have collaborated over the past ten years to deliver Chelsea Barracks and look at what has been delivered.

Hideaway at Chelsea Barracks

In celebration of the opening of the first two gardens at Chelsea Barracks; Mulberry Square and Bourne Walk – Hideaway at Chelsea Barracks opened on Garrison Square, opposite the Garrison Chapel. It offered a quiet and peaceful spot to enjoy delicious food, surrounded by gardens, in the heart of central London.

The 'pop-up' restaurant brought to life the magnificent building designed by Ben Pentreath and played host to Michelin Star chef Ollie Dabbous who headed up the menu.

Opened for the first time to the public in May during the Chelsea Flower Show and then again in September through to December for subsequent Autumn and Christmas pop-ups, the beautiful space was transformed inside and out for customers to indulge throughout the seasons.

Exciting plans are underway for the restaurant space in 2020 and we look forward to announcing the permanent restaurateur in due course.

The Estate Team

The Estate Management Team at Chelsea Barracks are on hand 24/7, priding themselves in taking a completely bespoke and personal approach to each and every one of the Chelsea Barracks’ residents. The highly trained team knows each individual resident’s preferences so that they really feel welcome at home. Like all good world-class concierge teams, it is a service built on trust, allowing residents to rest assured that their requests are dealt with in the most private and discreet manner with nothing being too much trouble.

Bicameral

Bicameral is the first piece of major public art at Chelsea Barracks and will form part of an ambitious programme being curated for the development. Unveiled by the British artist behind the sculpture, Conrad Shawcross, Bicameral reflects the rich history of Belgravia and celebrates a commitment to craftsmanship. The piece, situated in Dove Place, is made of anodised aluminium, stands at over 8m tall and is constructed using 693 component parts.

Shawcross commented: “The name Bicameral came from ‘The Origin of Consciousness in the Breakdown of the Bicameral Mind’, by Julian Jaynes; Jaynes’s book theorises that consciousness evolved out of the use of language, particularly metaphors. The sculpture is a progression of bifurcating and trifurcating elements that fan out from a stem loosely forming two hemispheres or sides”.

Partnerships

Masterpiece VIP & Patron Lounge

As a further commitment to the arts, Chelsea Barracks once again partnered with Masterpiece London. With a shared appreciation for the art history and art community within the surrounding area, and a determination that this locale remains a place that attracts and engages a sophisticated and discerning artist audience, it is a natural pairing.

This year Chelsea Barracks delivered a lounge for the Masterpiece and Chelsea Barracks Patrons and VIPs - a space to unwind and recharge. Once again, the inspiration for the design was taken from the seven garden squares of Chelsea Barracks; a rich palette of greens formed the backdrop of the space which was embellished with verdant planting and rich textures. This year the addition of a terrace enabled guests to enjoy the lounge whilst admiring the views beyond, the immaculate lawns and exquisite architecture of the Royal Hospital Chelsea.

The Garrison Club Delivered

Along with the completion of the first residences, November 2019 saw the completion of ‘The Garrison Club’, the Chelsea Barracks amenity offering. Chelsea Barracks delivers a range of on-site amenities quite unlike anything else in London.

The Spa, designed by Goddard Littlefair London and dressed by London based interior design firm, Elicyon, offers the ultimate wellness experience for residents. The Business Suite and Residents Lounge has also been dressed by Elicyon and the beautiful spaces cater for all our resident’s day-to-day needs, offering spaces for work and play. The Cinema and Billiard rooms are complete, the pantry stocked full of Daylesford’s treats and the Estate Team poised at the ready.