| Architect |
Bennetts
Associates |
| Date
Built |
Completed
2003 |
| Location |
Eton Avenue, Swiss Cottage |
| Description |
|
In Swiss Cottage a variety of public and
private buildings surround a public park
designed by the landscape architects
Gustafson Porter. The centrepiece of
the park is a shallow rectangular pool with
a fountain and around it are residential and
commercial buildings, as well as Basil
Spence's Swiss Cottage Library, the Swiss
Cottage Leisure Centre and, at the Eton
Avenue end, the Hampstead Theatre.   Designed by the architectural practice of Bennetts Associates, this was the first free-standing theatre to be built in the city for 25 years. The architects say of it that, "The location was determined by a masterplan and the glazed foyer draws the visitor in towards view over the new park designed by Gustafson Porter. The auditorium is a dramatic tilting zinc drum accessed theatrically across bridges over a void. Inside lies an intimate performance space that emphasises engagement between actors and audience."  They add that, "A
large basement prevents the building
from dominating the site. The
auditorium’s shallow ellipse
accommodates various sizes of
audience and stage format while
maintaining the feel of a complete
‘room’." Depending on the
nature of the play the main auditorium
is capable of accommodating up to 325
people. There is
also a second performance space
"Downstairs" that offers
unreserved seating for approximately 80
people. On the ground floor there
is a bar/cafe.
 |
|
Hampstead
Theatre, Swiss Cottage, London, UK |
