JAA Studio recently released a set of visualisations as part of a discussion piece about the site’s future, reimagining the burnt-out west London high-rise encased in a ’sarcophagus’ of 224 black concrete panels.

The concept includes a beacon in flat 16, where the blaze started, which would light up at night as ’a quiet nightly narrator’ of the tragedy, as well as a public rooftop garden and a community centre.

The proposal is accompanied by a provocative essay by academic Kevin Rhowbottom and a statement by JAA Studio (see attached) which calls for a work of civic memory offering a ‘different perspective’ on the building’s future.


It said: ’This project does not claim to be the answer to the difficult conditions found in the aftermath of Grenfell, but instead offers an alternative way of thinking about the site (and others similar) and its new-found sanctity through disaster.

’If we build over these individual spaces borne out of tragedy we will forget over time. And the city needs its scars; the city needs to remember.’

But Dent Coad, the local MP for Kensington and Chelsea said JAA Studio’s proposals would turn the tower into a ’misery porn theme park’.

’First, [the practice] assumes that the site, when the structure is taken down, will be developed. Where did that idea come from? Nobody has suggested that. Who would want to live on the site of the worst peacetime atrocity of our time?

’Local residents won’t allow it, the bereaved and survivors don’t want it.’


She added: ’The atrocity is but a year old. Think about those who live there. They have no wish to be reminded every day, for the benefit of others. This proposal is, frankly, macabre.’

In response to the criticism, Jenny Fleming, director at JAA, emphasised the proposal was intended as a concept but that the media had ’regurgitated the imagery’ and reinforced the ’incorrect assumption’ that their proposals were real.

’Dent Coad is therefore, unfortunately, commenting on what is a distortion of our output, under the false impression this was a ‘real’ proposal.

’We have since spoken with Grenfell United, who now understand the original work as a whole piece and how this was never intended as a real proposal for the site. We apologised for any misunderstanding caused through the mis-reporting of the piece.’

She added: ’Our hope now is that a productive conversation can develop with the residents’ wishes of course front and centre, and that, within the profession, the wider conversation continues about the state of our industry, procurement and the way we construct buildings.’

It was recently announced that the government would retain control over the Grenfell Tower site after an original plan to give responsibility back to Kensington and Chelsea council sparked outrage.

The site is expected to be turned into a memorial to the 72 people killed in the tragedy. A government document outlining the potential future uses of the Grenfell Tower site states the community will lead the decision-making process.

Ds memorial garden

JAA Studio’s view The still, silent, blackened shell of Grenfell was a haunting and brutally honest account of what happened, and as such very disturbing to view in the aftermath. Now over a year on, the tower is cocooned in scaffolding and tarpaulin; not as raw, not as black, covered up. Grenfell Tower: in Memoriam retains the existing tower’s structure and encases it within a civic-scaled sarcophagus of 224 black concrete panels. Visually, the tower will remain part of the skyline, but differentiated from the similarly scaled blocks nearby by its lack of windows and unpunctured silhouette. It stands in the city scape, part of it, but standing apart. At night, Flat 16 where the fire started, is illuminated amongst the mass of shadow, a small gilded beacon, a quiet nightly narrator of the tragic event. The rooftop is made accessible to form a memorial roof garden. A perimeter of columns topped by a canopy in pared-back black concrete as per the monolithic tower below, act as a muted backdrop to contrast to the newly planted colours and swaying wild flowers on this new 25th storey open to the sky. Stillness is formed, a true quiet space above the hustle and bustle. A place to stop. A place to reflect. A place to breathe. The physical proposals are somber, restrained, quiet, yet effective through their presence in the medium and distant views, how the memorial speaks to the city and to the local area. At close range however, the bottom four floors are renovated and re-purposed, made a pleasant and approachable space. These levels are extended and clad in glazing, lightweight and open, in contrast to the imposing and expressive bulk of the tower above - the scheme is not only physically present as a memorial, but also of purpose and use to the community. A new community centre is introduced, the boxing club is reinstated as well as a small permanent documentary gallery to the disaster and its victims. All other floors are closed off, serving no purpose other than to form the monument in the landscape. This project does not claim to be the answer to the difficult conditions found in the aftermath of Grenfell, but instead offers an alternative way of thinking about the site (and others similar) and its new-found sanctity through disaster. If we build over these individual spaces borne out of tragedy we will forget over time. And the city needs its scars; the city needs to remember. Because if we don’t, in the future we won’t only be discussing Ronan Point and Grenfell, but who knows how many other avoidable catastrophes.