The Brutalist tower designed to last 100 years became a site of tragedy
In short: Designed with an emphasis on structural strength, Grenfell Tower was intended to be a permanent fixture of the London skyline. Yet, a 2017 fire gutted the 24-storey block in just 24 hours, killing 72 people and sparking a decade of legal and architectural reckoning.
Designed in 1967 by Clifford Wearden and Associates, Grenfell Tower was a product of the Brutalist movement. It was built to the Parker Morris standards, featuring a central core for services and a perimeter of external columns. The original lead architect, Nigel Whitbread, noted that the building was designed for durability, contrasting it with the collapsed Ronan Point tower of the same era. The structure utilized innovative precast insulated concrete blocks, giving the exterior a unique texture.
The tower underwent a significant £8.7 million refurbishment between 2015 and 2016. This project aimed to improve thermal efficiency, replace windows, and modernize the appearance. However, it involved installing new aluminium composite rainscreen cladding—specifically Arconic's Reynobond PE and Reynolux sheets—over Celotex RS5000 polyisocyanurate (PIR) thermal insulation. This renovation was intended to align the tower's aesthetic with the nearby Kensington Academy.
The catastrophic fire on June 14, 2017, resulted in 72 deaths. Investigations revealed that the building's safety systems were severely compromised; the Grenfell Action Group (GAG) had issued ten warnings regarding fire safety in the four years leading up to the disaster. Records from 2013 showed that firefighting equipment had not been checked for four years, and some on-site extinguishers were marked as 'condemned.'
Following the tragedy, the site became a focal point for legal and community action. In 2025, demolition of the tower officially began, with the site slated to become a memorial. The Metropolitan Police have since passed a file to the Crown Prosecution Service seeking charges against 54 people and 20 companies, including the Royal Borough of Kensington and Chelsea, for offences such as corporate manslaughter.
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- Summary by Intellect · source: Grenfell Tower
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