A new boutique co-living development has been completed in West London, transforming a former taxi association headquarters into a vibrant residential community. The innovative project, designed by Allford Hall Monaghan Morris (AHMM) with TiggColl serving as interior architect, sits on the site that once housed the headquarters of the Licensed Taxi Drivers Association in Westbourne Park.

Developed for investment manager Cheyne Capital and operated by boutique co-living provider Mason & Fifth, the comprehensive development comprises 332 units specifically designed to serve young creatives, entrepreneurs, artists, and professionals. The scheme features a family of buildings with varying scales that wrap around an urban courtyard opening directly onto the canal, creating a unique waterfront living experience.

The architectural design responds thoughtfully to the area's historical character while providing modern amenities. The buildings reach up to 12 stories at their highest point, then step down to four and five stories to harmoniously meet adjacent structures. The facades have been carefully proportioned to complement the neighborhood's historical architecture, featuring distinctive Crittall windows and a sophisticated material palette of brick, steel, and glazed green terracotta.

Residents have access to an extensive array of amenities including social and work spaces, communal dining areas, a listening lounge, screening room, and a lower-ground wellness suite complete with a swimming pool. The development also provides significant benefits to the broader community through co-working spaces, affordable workspaces, a waterfront restaurant, and substantial improvements to the public realm.

At the heart of the development lies a new pocket park, accessible through a carefully designed public route from the residential street via a subtle archway featuring a reflective soffit. This pathway opens out to the waterfront on the canal side, where a tiered public area serves as a venue for performances and leisure activities, enhancing community engagement.

TiggColl's interior design draws inspiration from the surrounding neighborhoods, including Notting Hill, Ladbroke Grove, Portobello Road, and Golborne Road. The design team selected a sophisticated muted palette featuring fabrics, textured tiles, natural wood, clay, and marble throughout the spaces. In the entrance lobby, concrete columns have been deliberately left exposed, while a custom marble reception desk creates a striking central feature.

The 10th-floor residents' lounge offers direct views of the canal and incorporates shared kitchen and dining areas for community interaction. A lowered ceiling treatment using timber and fabric textures creates an intimate atmosphere that encourages social connection among residents.

"Redeveloping this site has created a unique place in the city, where people can come together and build a community," said Hazel Joseph, director at AHMM. "Our approach was informed by the local area and the site's unique character, where the city's intensive use intersects with nature – from the creation of repaired frontages to the north using contextual forms and materials, to the unexpected yet dynamic urban courtyard at the heart of the scheme, which opens up to the south and connects the development to the waterfront."

Rachel Coll, founding director of TiggColl, explained the interior design philosophy: "Our aim was to capture the contrasting landscapes of the Westway's industrial concrete canopy and the fluidity of the Grand Union Canal, and to create a design dialogue that bridges the area's past, present and future, allowing Mason & Fifth Westbourne Park to become a part of this location's evolving story."

Matt Floyd, development manager at Cheyne Capital, emphasized the project's broader impact: "Our focus is on developing high-quality, mixed-use developments that deliver real sustainability and community value. Partnering with the exceptionally talented teams at AHMM and TiggColl has been key to achieving this. Their visionary design is shaping a unique and vibrant destination in west London for people to live, work and relax."

The project, which began construction in July 2022, is scheduled for completion in May 2025. The development encompasses a gross internal floor area of 14,557 square meters, with a total gross floor area of 15,856 square meters including external spaces. The comprehensive project team included MCR Consulting Engineers for structural engineering, Caldwell Consulting Engineers for mechanical and electrical systems, David Clarke Landscaping for landscape design, and McAleer and Rushe as the main contractor.

Environmental performance has been a key consideration throughout the design process. The development has achieved an Energy Performance Certificate rating of A, with varying airtightness levels across different building types: 3.75 m³/h.m² for residential depot areas, 4.94 m³/h.m² for hotel-style accommodations, and 9.07 m³/h.m² for commercial spaces. The overall area-weighted U-value stands at 0.33 W/m²K, and the buildings have been designed for a predicted lifespan of 60 years, demonstrating the project's commitment to long-term sustainability and community value.