The Gaumont King’s Road Chelsea building London, British artist Shezad Dawood England, Property facade

The Gaumont King’s Road Chelsea, London

14 July 2025

Design: StudioPDP

Restored façade of The Gaumont:

photos courtesy of Cadogan

Chelsea’s new commercial and cultural anchor features site-specific artwork by acclaimed London artist Shezad Dawood.

Cadogan celebrates The Gaumont with new public art unveiling

A major new site-specific artwork by British artist Shezad Dawood has been unveiled on the façade of The Gaumont, a new commercial and cultural anchor for the King’s Road.

The Gaumont is a landmark £235 million development by Cadogan, located at the heart of London’s iconic King’s Road. The 220,000 sq. ft project comprises flagship fashion retail, an arthouse cinema, ‘creative cluster’ for independents, office space, residential apartments, hospitality venues including a rooftop bar with panoramic views, pub theatre – and Dawood’s art installation Cascade, an expansive ceramic diptych permanently installed on the building’s façade. Featuring two vertical panels, each measuring 6x3m and made of 144 hand glazed tiles, it occupies the historic panelling which originally listed the films on show and the screen stars associated with them.

New artwork by British artist Shezad Dawood at The Gaumont:

The artwork depicts a full moon passing through the night sky, paying homage to the heritage and memory of the site’s origins as the Gaumont Palace Theatre, which distributed early cinematic pioneer Georges Melies classic A Trip to the Moon. Other local influences include James Abbott McNeill Whistler’s painting Nocturne in Black and Gold (which depicts falling fireworks above the River Thames in Chelsea) and gothic horror novelists Bram Stoker and Mary Shelley, both of whom lived locally, the role of the moon in their masterpieces Dracula and Frankenstein, and the impact their haunting imagery had on early cinema.

Equally important as inspirations to Dawood’s work were characters as varied as Charles II, whom the King’s Road is named after, and iconic British fashion designer Vivienne Westwood and her boutique Sex, which was located on the King’s Road – and whose ubiquitous logo playfully appropriated Charles’ sceptre and orb. The geometric elements of Mary Quant’s designs and the bold and unique colour palette of the Chelsea Pottery, round off Dawood’s influences for Cascade. The relief elements act as a quasi-sundial as the sun moves overhead and the shadows dance, creating a kinetic movement to the piece during sunlight. The work is then lit to dramatic effect by night.

The Gaumont restored façade:

Shezad Dawood was selected and commissioned to create the artwork by a cultural panel brought together by Cadogan and the cultural placemaking agency FutureCity, including members of the Chelsea Arts Club, the V&A and the Royal Society of Sculptors.

Hugh Seaborn, CEO of Cadogan, said: “When we envisioned The Gaumont, we knew it had to be more than a redevelopment – it had to feel rooted in the cultural legacy of the King’s Road and speak to the people who live, work and walk along this road every day. The unveiling of ’Cascade’ lights up the restored historic façade of The Gaumont and eloquently celebrates so much of the King’s Road’s rich heritage and the many icons associated with it.

Shezad Dawood was the perfect artist to express that. His work isn’t just beautiful – it’s a creative anchor. It reminds us that development isn’t only about new space, but about identity. His work captures the emotional texture of the area: the cinema, the characters, the creative spirit that’s always defined Chelsea. It is part of a wider revitalisation plan for one of the world’s most famous high streets.”

Shezad Dawood said: “I feel deeply connected to the area on various levels, from first seeing the Seven Samurai with my dad at the then Chelsea Cinema as a kid, to one of my first jobs at a bookstore on the King’s Road – then of course there is the broader cultural importance of the area, as a home to various artists, writers and filmmakers, that have all informed my research. As an artist who works across painting, ceramics and film I am so excited to unveil an artwork that draws on all of these disciplines for the façade of such an iconic building that was also a key part of my early cinematic education.”

The Gaumont is one of the most significant new developments on the King’s Road since Cadogan’s Duke of York Square, which transformed a former Ministry of Defence site into a dynamic retail and cultural hub anchored by the Saatchi Gallery in 2008. The estate’s wider placemaking strategy also includes the recent transformation of Sloane Street, reinforcing its position as a leading luxury retail destination alongside turning it into a ‘green boulevard’, improving biodiversity and climate resilience.

The Gaumont

Located at the heart of the world-famous King’s Road, The Gaumont is a beautifully crafted 220,000 sq ft landmark development in a historic building. Originally a grand cinema, the architecture of the 1934 Gaumont Palace is heavily influenced by a Bauhaus aesthetic with touches of Art Deco detailing.

As part of Cadogan’s continued community-led placemaking and investment, The Gaumont’s stunning façade has been sensitively renovated, preserving its unique embellishments. Opening In stages across 2025/26, it will comprise a rooftop bar with panoramic views from Big Ben to Battersea, a 600-seat cinema, enhanced Waitrose, flagship retail, creative space, office accommodation and 47 residential apartments, as well as an extraordinary art installation by renowned London-based artist Shezad Dawood.

Designed by leading architects Studio PDP, with construction undertaken by UK firm Wates Group, the scheme celebrates the community, heritage and architecture of the area. Following a local consultation, which highlighted the resounding call for more independent uses focused on the arts, music and literature, a cluster of small spaces in The Gaumont will be home to independent creatives to strengthen and encourage King’s Road position at the epicentre of London’s art, fashion, design and music scene.

With a long-term stewardship approach, Cadogan has sought not only to preserve and showcase the historical significance of this building, but also to ensure the development plays its role in contributing to a sustainable environment through the incorporation of solar photovoltaic panels, roof top greening, low carbon water source heat pumps and targeting a BREEAM ‘Excellent’ rating.

Creativity and innovation are built into the fabric of the King’s Road: home to artists, Bohemians, and birthplace of the moving image in the 19th century, to site of major cultural movements of the 20th century – swinging 60’s London, punks and Sloane Rangers. Inspiration is born of the area and encapsulated in the architecture and spirit of The Gaumont.

Key Consultants:

Architect – StudioPDP
Project Manager – Capital & Provincial
QS – TTPP Construction Consultants
Structural Engineer – AKTII
MEP – HDR
Landscape – Bowles & Wyer
Planning Consultant – Gerald Eve
Contractor – Wates

The Gaumont King’s Road Chelsea building, London, England images / information received 140725

Location: Kings Road, London, England, United Kingdom.