The building
Grenfell Tower was completed in 1974 as part of the Lancaster West Estate in
North Kensington, London. The 24-storey block provided around 120 homes above a
raised podium with community rooms, walkways, and open space at ground level.
Its architecture belongs to the post-war social housing tradition: a reinforced
concrete frame, ribbed concrete piers, dark spandrel bands, and white infill
panels. For more than forty years it was home to a settled, diverse community.
Refurbishment
Between 2012 and 2016 the tower underwent a major refurbishment. The exterior
was reclad with aluminium composite rainscreen panels and the windows were
replaced. The work changed how the building looked and how its outer walls
performed — a matter examined in detail by the public inquiry that followed.
14 June 2017
On the night of 14 June 2017 a fire spread through the tower. Seventy-two people
lost their lives. Many others were injured, bereaved, or lost their homes and
possessions. The disaster affected families across North Kensington and far
beyond.
Those who died are remembered by the community, by inquiry and inquest processes,
and by memorial efforts led by survivors and bereaved families. This reconstruction
is offered in that spirit — to preserve knowledge of the building and to make
quiet space for remembrance.
Today
The physical tower is being carefully dismantled. Digital reconstruction is one way
future generations may come to understand the architecture of the estate and the
events of 2017. The geometry shown here is approximate and intended for education,
not as a survey record.