The Grand Theatre, London
- Architect:
Sean Madigan and Stephen Donald Architects - Award Type:
Regional Award 1992 - Location: Overseas
Citation
Overseas - Over £200,000
The project was to revitalise the dilapidated but flamboyant Granbd Theatre as a contemporary concert venue. Designed by Ernest AE Woodrow, it started life in 1900; but by 19990 the building had fallen into a serious state of decay. In addition many of its most important features had been obliterated or removed.
We took a course of action which would help recall the building's history. The recently completed first phase ranged from 'creative demolition' through discriminating re-interpretation, to faithful restoration of certain parts of teh building.
The elaborate plasterwork in the auditorium has been carefully repaired and pigmented to suggest the patina of 90 years use. The remodelled foyer is a blend of partial restoration (light fittings, terrazzo floor) and contemporary detailing (ticket office). The major contemporary interventions which have been completed in the auditorium are the curved acoustic screen, the new bar and the sound/lighting engineers' mixing gantry.