This is my first post on my blog and I thought I would write about something/someone I admire and how architectural legacies can, if done well,be enhanced.
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| The National Theatre 1976. |
I have walked past the National Theatre numerous times and have been inside on a few occasions, I have always appreciated its brutal elegance but it wasn't until I worked on a scheme at The University of East Anglia a couple of years ago (and through numerous visits to the campus) that I came to fully appreciate the work of one of its Architects Sir Denys Lasdun (1914 - 2001). Lasdun worked along side Architect Peter Softley and utilised his unique style that allowed him to create huge monolithic like concrete buildings that would, in detail, become elegant. I feel this is especially true of the National Theatre, located next to the River Thames in the South Bank area of London where it has sat completed since 1976. The building is passed by thousands of people everyday and has become one of the iconic land marks of central London.
| The National Theatres at night following the lighting revamp. |
It must be hard to produce a scheme for a building that is so well known and loved by people all over the world as well as the daily occupants of the building. The first well needed refurbishment was in the late 1990's to suit the theatres changing needs for the 21st century, the National Theatre underwent its first facelift with Stanton Williams wielding the scalpel. The building, at that time, needed bringing back to life, it was perhaps seen as a derelict dead end to the riverwalk. The Stanton Williams scheme removed circulation for vehicles around the building and rearranged the entrance and facilities within the building, giving it a less formal feel and helping to integrate the structure more into the everyday activities along the South Bank. The external spaces were totally re-landscaped and a new internal and external lighting scheme changed the night time appearance of the theatre. Glazed panels ate up some of the external space to create the bookshop and form Theatre Square at the South Bank entrance. Overall the Stanton Williams refurbishment worked very well and stayed courteous to the buildings 1967 design. There were originally plans to eradicate one of the concrete terraces of the building but following outcry from the architectural community and objections from Lasdun himself, these were quashed.
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| The proposed glazed extension to the south facade. |
Now as we climb ever higher up the ladder of the 21st century the National Theatre is to be refurbished again by Hawthorn Tompkins Architects. This time a new glazed extension is to be added to the south for educational spaces and a masterplan remodel of the entrance and internal levels to adapt the building as it becomes ever busier. More glass brings the public further into a building that, from some angles, has a fortress like appearance. Hawthorn and Tompkins have a reputation (with an as-built portfolio to back it up) of keeping as much of an original building as is possible for adaptation. However their job has been made a little easier by the forward thinking of Lasdun. Lasdun would use brick, instead of concrete, in places that he saw possible room for extension and adaptation in the future. The street level south facade of the building is built from engineering brick and incorporates only small slit windows making the construction of any extension a more copable task. Alas long time supporters of the building will no doubt reservedly be up in arms about any new refurbishment taking place but as we travel further into the exploration of arts and diversity change needs to be embraced in the spaces that this exploration takes place.
