community/cultural
Maxwell Fry, 1937
Kensal House estate, Ladbroke Grove, W10 5BQ
Kensal House, designed in the 1930s by Maxwell Fry and Elizabeth Denby, is a landmark in social housing. Central to this Grade-II* listed building is the community room, fostering social interaction among residents. Today, this space hosts SPID, a youth theatre that advocates housing justice through co-created art. After 5 years of refurbishment, SPID is ready to re-open its door to the community.
Ladbroke Grove, Kensal Green
Kensal Rise
52, 452, 23, 70, 228, 295, 316
The new refurbishment work is done to ensure a step-free access from the street level to the main venue (Kensal House Community Room).
The main venue is part of a council estate, so as much as it is accessible to public during the event, it is still a semi-private area.
Guided tour
12:00–13:30
How to book
Please create a free visitor account to book your festival tickets.
Guided tour
14:30–16:00
How to book
Please create a free visitor account to book your festival tickets.
Kensal House estate's modernist community rooms form a Grade II* listed community centre in London's North Kensington, just 10 minutes from Grenfell Tower, is home to SPID Theatre. The groundbreaking estate incorporated community facilities such as a crèche, canteen and workshops and it was also the country's first gas-powered housing development. Designed in 1937 by architect Maxwell Fry and social reformer Elizabeth Denby, this modernist gem offered an urban village for former slum dwellers, providing the prototype for buildings of social worth like Finsbury Park Health Centre. Kensal House was one of the first council estates to be built in London and helped to champion the birth of the Welfare State. Now that more than 100 London estates are currently earmarked for demolition, its role is more important than ever. The community rooms house SPID's living history projects, documenting the heritage of local estates such as Grenfell and Trellick. The space has been registered as a community asset because of the programme of free arts, heritage and community activities that SPID runs from their base.
SPID Theatre Company celebrates their 20th year residing at Grade II* listed Kensal House Estate Community Rooms at this year’s Open House London weekend. This free event will use a guided tour and a short interactive performance to bring the past and future of the space to life.
SPID worked with Studio Sam Causer to refurbish SPID's base to make it both fit for modern use and an embodiment of the modernist vision shared by architects Maxwell Fry and social reformer Elizabeth Denby. The space is now wheelchair accessible with a newly installed lift and enclosed sloping corridor offering separate access to the hall, back stage for all visitors. The refurbishment is shortlisted for The 2025 McEwen Award.
SPID specialises in high quality community youth theatre on council estates. Our work is recognised for its DIY passion, prophetic passion and the fresh voices of the young people at its heart. We champion human dignity by advocating investment in social housing and reaching out to those with lived experience of housing injustice.
