The director of the architecture firm behind Grenfell Tower refurbishment has apologised for the fire that killed 72.
Andrzej Kuszell, from Studio E, said the fire ‘really shouldn’t have happened’ and he was ‘really, really sorry’ when he gave evidence to the Grenfell Tower Inquiry today.
Studio E oversaw Grenfell refurbishment, which included the flammable cladding.
At the end of his questioning, Mr Kuszell said: ‘Hindsight now comes into play – we’ve lived two-and-a-half years since the tragedy and doubtless absolutely every one of us would wish to turn the clock back.
The director of the architecture firm behind Grenfell Tower refurbishment Andrzej Kuszell has apologised for the fire that killed 72. Pictured: Kuszell at the inquiry today
‘I have to say that if we had understood that building regulations were not robust… this is so sad to say but I don’t think this tragedy would have happened, and it really cracks me up, because it shouldn’t have happened.
‘It really shouldn’t have happened, and I’m really, really sorry for all of you and everybody else who was involved in the project.’
The 2017 blaze at the north Kensington block killed 72 people.
Mr Kuszell earlier told the hearings that the managing architect on the 24-storey tower’s refurbishment, Bruce Sounes, had no experience of overcladding residential blocks.
Studio E oversaw Grenfell refurbishment, which included the flammable cladding. Pictured: Grenfell Tower before the blaze
Richard Millett QC, lead lawyer for the inquiry, questioned Mr Kuszell on the selection of the team for the project, and asked: ‘You told us he (Mr Sounes) said he didn’t have any experience of overcladding an occupied residential high-rise building,’ to which Mr Kuszell said: ‘Correct.’
The inquiry also heard that the firm ‘got a bit of stick’ for another design on the KALC project when ‘somebody made a comment that Studio E aren’t exactly residential architects’.
However, Mr Kuszell said he had faith his firm could complete the Grenfell job.
He said: ‘I believed we had the processes and experience of complex buildings to be able to undertake this commission. It wasn’t just my belief, it was clearly the belief of all senior members.’
He added: ‘We put the project in the hands of one of our most senior and experienced people… I had no reason to believe we wouldn’t be able to do it.’
Mr Kuszell’s evidence was slightly delayed on Monday, after the hearing had to be adjourned when it was interrupted by protesters.
People were heard shouting ‘Why don’t you ask the corporates to leave?’.
Others shouted ‘it’s a disgrace’ and ‘what’s the f****** point?’ as inquiry chairman Sir Martin Moore-Bick invited the day’s first witness, Mr Kuszell, to start giving evidence.
The inquiry was following an outburst from members of the public asking: ‘Have you sold your soul yet, Sir Martin.’
As the hearing resumed around 10 minutes later, another man in the room addressed Sir Martin and said: ‘These people are not bereaved and survivors.’
Sir Martin Moore-Bick (left) was heckled following the ruling last week by Ms Braverman (right) that witnesses could give evidence without fear of prosecution
Several people were escorted from the hearing room during the break.
The angry scenes came on the first day of the hearing after a month’s delay, during which Attorney General Suella Braverman guaranteed anything said by witnesses will not be used to prosecute them.
The Attorney General’s pledge stops oral evidence given by individual witnesses being used against them in any criminal prosecutions over the fire.
It does not cover any documents submitted to the inquiry, and does not stop witness evidence being used against corporations in future prosecutions.
Speaking after the interruption, Sir Martin said: ‘I was slightly surprised because, during the phase one hearings I was very impressed by the way in which everyone listened to the witnesses in a respectful and dignified way.
‘Obviously, you may hear things that you don’t like to hear and people may feel strongly about some of the evidence, but it’s very important… that the witnesses are allowed to give their evidence with dignity and respect from everyone.
Fire Brigades Union general secretary Matt Wrack said: ‘We have seen endless delays to this inquiry and it is only today, more than two-and-a-half years on from Grenfell, that those who wrapped the building in flammable cladding will finally take the stand.
‘Firefighters underwent immense scrutiny during phase one, while corporate witnesses have had years to prepare and will not have their evidence used against them in criminal prosecutions; a protection afforded to no firefighter.
Pictured: Smoke billows from the Grenfell tower block in North Kensington, west London
‘This inquiry should leave no stone unturned and we must finally learn what led to Grenfell becoming such a death trap, so those responsible can be held to account.’
Survivors have said they will ‘not settle for anything less’ than criminal prosecutions over the fire.
Survivors and victims’ group Grenfell United said the ruling from Ms Braverman last week marked a ‘sad day’ and that ‘truth at the inquiry must not come at the expense of justice and prosecutions’.
The second stage of the inquiry is considering how the 24-storey tower in west London came to be covered in flammable material, which fuelled the spread of flames after an electrical fault with a fridge freezer.
Other staff from Studio E will give evidence to the hearings throughout this week.