Brondesbury Park Synagogue

Brondesbury Park Synagogue is home to a young, warm and dynamic modern orthodox community in central London. Their new building sets an elegant, welcoming presence within its suburban context, on a site shared with the former 1936 Willesden Synagogue – designed by émigré architect Fritz Landau with Morris de Metz, grandfather of dMFK Director Julian. Inside, a bright and well-proportioned prayer hall is supported by a series of flexible community rooms that serve learning, celebration and day-to-day synagogue life throughout the week.

Location: Brondesbury, London
Size: 1,200 sqm
Client: United Synagogue Limited

In Detail

Before and After

The story of the site is layered. The 1936 Willesden Synagogue once served a thriving congregation but, as membership declined, it was sold in 2000 and became a church. Meanwhile, the Brondesbury Park community moved into a modest 1960s hall on the same site and gradually outgrew it as numbers increased.

Our brief was to create a contemporary synagogue for a growing congregation – welcoming, adaptable and environmentally ambitious – capable of accommodating worship, education and community support, while respecting the history that surrounds it.

The design replaces the 1960s building with a clear and legible plan, placing the prayer hall at the heart and arranging community spaces around it to support gatherings throughout the week. Circulation is simple and inclusive, so the building feels easy to use for all ages and levels of mobility. The overall form is modest in height and composed carefully within its suburban setting, offering a sense of dignity without formality.

Environmental performance is woven into our architectural design. Aluminium louvres, deep GRC shading reveals, planting and decorative brickwork panels are used to manage sunlight, reduce glare and limit heat gain, while giving the façades depth and softness. Low-energy strategies and careful material choices support the project’s BREEAM Excellent rating. The completed building offers a synagogue that is contemporary and sustainable, shaped around community life and designed to serve for many years ahead.