Significance of the Local Area

Built in 2013, JW3 is the only Jewish Community Centre of its kind in the UK - a vibrant hub for Jewish arts, culture, learning and life where everyone is welcome.

It's based on the Finchley Road, which, aside from being one of the busiest roads in London, has also been influential and important for European Jews from the 1930s onwards.

Thousands of refugees from Nazi Europe got to work rebuilding their lives – as well as their continental coffee houses, restaurants, social clubs, bookshops and cabarets – along Finchley Road. So many, in fact, that bus conductors would yell "Next stop, Finchleystrasse!" as they approached.

From the Cosmo, Dorice and Balsam cafes to the Laterndl theatre and Blue Danube Club, the establishments of this microcosm of Mitteleuropa became a home from home for the displaced of NW3 and a tribute to a vanished world.

The London Jewish Mural

In 2023, JW3 commissioned the artist Leon Fenster to create his vision of Jewish London through his unique artwork, characatures and wit.

With over 150 faces from fiction to legends, historical to business and locals: with a smattering of kosher butchers, bakers and tailors; a young Nicholas Winton directing Kindertransport trains; Freud; three great agony aunts: Margorie Proops, Claire Rayner and Irma Kurtz answering sack loads of letters; celebrating at Benjamin Disraeli’s never to have been Bar Mitzvah; Queen Elizabeth I watching the trial of Rodrigo Lopez (her famously Jewish doctor); Jewish boxers in the ring from different generations: Daniel Mendoza Vs Harry Mizler – not to mention a rabbi or 7! including Julia Neuberger, Lionel Blue, Miriam Lorie, Joseph Dwek, Louis Jacobs, Joseph Hertz, and Jonathan Sacks – and even a golem warding off Nazi planes during the Blitz by hanging off St Paul’s Cathedral like King Kong!

The colourful kaleidoscope collides every period of London’s Jews together with highlights depicting memories, legends, history, celebrations and stories of the Jews who live, lived and passed through London.

Jewish stories and conversations from the length and breadth of London. From Brian Epstein shepherding the Beatles to find them their first mod suits – a seminal moment in rock and roll fashion history; to Mr. Fish and his eponymous 1960s Mayfair boutique creating both the kipper tie and the man-dress – famously worn by David Bowie and Mick Jagger.

The East End Schewzik’s Russian Vapour Baths; film locations from 66 and Leon The Pig Farmer and the construction of the Belz Chasidic synagogue – plus a nod to JW3 with founder Dame Vivien Duffield and CEO Raymond Simonson amongst all the faces!

William Gallinsky, Director of Programming at JW3 says: “London has a diverse Jewish community, with history and stories to match. Now, more than ever, we need to ensure that rich tapestry is shared with the whole of London. What better way to be loud, and proud of our heritage, than by putting it up on the side of our home for the world to see? Leon has captured the depth and breadth of Jewish London in a beautiful artwork that we hope will create countless conversations about multicultural London.”

Building Architecture and Design

The JW3 building was designed by architect Alex Lifschutz of Lifschutz Davidson Sandilands.

Designed to accommodate a wide range of users and activities, the building includes a nursery, restaurant, bar, flexible meeting rooms, a multi-purpose hall, and a cinema. A lower-level piazza separates the building from the main road, providing both an environmental buffer and a versatile outdoor space. The centre is supported by an adjacent apartment building, which also forms part of the overall composition. Since opening, it has significantly exceeded its projected usage, hosting around 200,000 visitors annually.

The design addresses several site challenges, including limited space, proximity to neighbouring residential gardens, and pollution from the adjacent road. A compact and efficient plan locates building services and circulation along the southwest edge, freeing up open-plan space along the northeast. This allows for flexible layouts and adaptability in use. The building also uses robust materials such as exposed concrete to provide thermal mass, durability, and a consistent visual identity.

JW3’s layout enables continuous adaptation, with multi-use spaces that support rapid changes in programming. Storage is integrated into each space, and the building services support a wide range of activities, from dance and drama to community support and civic functions. During COVID, the building served as a key distribution hub, delivering over 500,000 meals to the local community. The piazza is used throughout the year for seasonal events, providing a highly effective and low-cost amenity.

Sustainability has been prioritised through natural ventilation, thermal mass, and renewable energy technologies including solar panels. The building achieved BREEAM Excellent and was designed for low energy and maintenance costs. High utilisation of spaces—over 5,000 events annually—contributes to strong environmental efficiency. Feedback from users highlights the building’s adaptability, generous circulation, and lasting value to the community.