In 2024, UP Projects were shortlisted as part of a wider team led by Office Sian for the Grenfell Memorial commission. The competition was led by RIBA working in collaboration with the Grenfell Memorial Commission and the Secretariat. Just five teams were announced as part of the shortlist and were asked to work collaboratively with the Grenfell Community over a year long period.
Working as part of a wider team, UP Projects put forward a vision for an artist-led and trauma informed engagement process that placed the bereaved and survivors at the centre of a collaborative design process. Inspired by art therapy methodologies this engagement process explored how a sensory approach to engagement could be employed that would enable the design team to progress from listening and understanding to relating concepts onto the site of the Grenfell Memorial - ultimately allowing communities to shape and be active participants in the design process.
Throughout the process UP Projects drew on ongoing critical thinking around memorials and monuments and the role they can play now and in the future.
In 2025, Freehaus were announced as the winners of the competition and have been tasked to work alongside the Grenfell Community to create a fitting and lasting memorial that pays tribute to the 72 lives lost in the tragedy that took place at the Grenfell Tower on 14 June 2017.
We would like to thank those community members who gave up their time and shared their experiences with us throughout the competitive process.
Our full collaborative team led by Office Sian was East Architecture, AKTII, MANAS, WSP, DP9, Bradley-Hole Schoenaich Landscape, UP Projects and Thahmina Begum.
