Matcham completed this innovative ‘variety palace’ in 1901 (within 5 months!) and Ronalds did this superb refurbishment incorporating an ‘eat-your-heart-out-Venturi’ sign on the exterior. The original’s lobby area is described as ‘flamboyant Rococo Baroque style’. After serving as a live TV studio in the ‘50’s and a bingo hall in the ‘60’s the Empire returned to theatrical events in the mid-’80’s. The Ronalds team have entirely refurbished and restored the interiors, added to the fly-tower and provided new backstage areas.. . . and they gave us that wonderful signage (currently a recurring theme in London’s new architecture, but never so full and neo-Venturi on as this).
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Photo: Siobain Macgrath |
Z. Q This is one of the better warehouse conversions ® ‘ in London, although the most interesting parts – zinc-clad roof pavilions and the central court – are not readily accessible. The building, located in 10-22 Shepardess Walk, N1, fills a whole block and is centred around an open court fitted with new access balconies, a glazed lift, and minimal landscaping with Scottish beach stones and three silver birch trees (parking is underneath). The ground floor is commercial space and the upper levels are 50 apartments. It is all very direct, no gimmicks, with robust, consistent detailing and very
satisfying. The designers are Buschow Henley (1999; see their TalkBack building in an earlier section).
7f The Rushton Street Surgery, on the south 70 side of Shoreditch Park, N1 (Penoyre & Prasad, 1999) divides doctors over two floors around a central, top-lit mall running through the centre of the plan and the street fagade offers itself as the presentable face of the building, embracing on-site parking, whilst the rear (south) side is quite plain – architecturally, a layering of accommodation along the central axis. It is the kind of design that is deeply considerate of users’ needs, operating costs, etc., although some details have
suffered from a procurement process that, at the final stages of the job, distanced the architects.