Lighting Up West London Again: Sharon Giffen's Vision for Earls Court's Cosmopolitan Revival
Thriving Haven: Sharon Giffen's Journey of Life
Features by Sharon Giffen | Snapshots by Earls Court Development Company
Earls Court holds a special place in my heart, featuring prominently in my family's history. It's the spot where my mother, a young architect from Colombia, landed in the early 70s, intending to catch a glimpse of London before returning to her World Bank-funded school design project in Bogotá. But fate had other plans.
A night in 1973 at the historic Mecca dance hall in Leicester Square brought about an unanticipated meeting with my father, a Belfast lad traveling the world as a merchant navy engineer. One birthday dance later, their love story—and our family's connection to Earls Court—was set in motion.
They settled just off Earls Court Road, joining a vibrant, multicultural community brimming with travelers from across the globe. Earls Court was the hippest spot in West London, a melting pot of international eats, drinks, and music. My parents were even regulars at the Exhibitions Centre concerts and cultural events.
Fast forward to today, and Earls Court—once a hub of cultural diversity—has seen its fair share of change. The closure of the Exhibition Centers in 2014 left an economic, social, and emotional void in the area. But the scene is about to change.
Enter 2019. A fresh vision for the 44-acre Earls Court site sprang to life, courtesy of a partnership between Delancey, APG, and Transport for London. As the Head of Design at the Earls Court Development Company, I seized the opportunity to bring that vision to life, with a personal connection to the project that runs three generations deep.
Our aim is to reconnect Earls Court to its surroundings, weaving it back into the fabric of the neighborhood. This signals the first change in over a century, with a pair of new routes cutting across the site, making the area more accessible, and nearly half the land reserved for public spaces.
The masterplan seeks to resurrect Earls Court as a center of innovation, culture, and business. It calls for 2.9 million square feet of commercial space, three cultural venues, and approximately 4,000 new homes catering to people of all ages. Above all, we envision an inclusive, sustainable community for years to come.
Earls Court is a place deeply rooted in my past and present. I'm honored to play a part in this ambitious project, and I can't wait to see how future generations will make Earls Court their own.
Sharon Giffen is the Head of Design at the Earls Court Development Company
Insight: The Earls Court Development Company is leading a large-scale revitalization project in Earls Court, West London, focusing on creating a hub for innovation, culture, and community. For updates on the project's progress, seek out information on the official website, local news sources, or government planning authority websites.
- Sharon Giffen's career with the Earls Court Development Company is a testament to the company's mission to revive Earls Court as a vibrant hub for lifestyle, business, and culture, mirrorring the diverse community that attracted her family decades ago.
- The home-and-garden section of local news sources might feature articles on the Earls Court Development Company's plans to create approximately 4,000 new residences, ensuring that the area remains a desirable place to live for various lifestyles.
- In the near future, Earls Court's history of being a center of culture might be revitalized as the development project includes three cultural venues, providing opportunities for professional and amateur artists to showcase their work and contribute to the community.
