His Majesty's Theatre - Public Architecture

His Majesty’s Theatre 11
Building Description
The five storey extension adjoins the east elevation
of the existing building and occupies a site previously
used as a car park. The scheme has 3 levels of
accommodation below the level of Rosemount Viaduct,
(Rehearsal, Green Room, Offices, Public Toilets etc.)
1 level of accommodation at the viaduct level (Foyer,
box office coffee shop & toilets) and one further level
above (corporate hospitality suite and restaurant).
The main bulk of the building is therefore hidden when
the building is viewed from Rosemount Viaduct onto
which the main elevation of the theatre faces.
“An important
aspect of the
development is
the improvement
to the access
arrangements and
facilities for those
with disabilities.”
Internal alterations to the existing building include
substantial back of house improvements to specialist
stage equipment, alterations to toilet areas,
construction of new dressing rooms in the basement
and the general improvement of the internal circulation
within the building.
Site plan
An important aspect of the development is the
improvement to the access arrangements and facilities
for those with disabilities. To achieve this, two new
passenger lifts have been inserted into the existing
building. Further improvements include the creation of
a level access approach to the new foyer and the new
stage door, the provision of three new accessible
dressing rooms, accessible toilets at each level of the
auditorium and the provision of wheelchair spaces in
the Stalls, Dress Circle and the Upper Circle.
To match the clients desire for the project to create a
more open and accessible public image for the
theatre, and for the building to be highly transparent
Theatre interior restored to former glory
to advertise the theatre’s function, the main entrance
elevation is clad in frame-less glass. This also allows
the new restaurant to fully exploit the dramatic views
over the neighbouring Union Terrace Gardens.
The glazed front elevation contrasts with the remainder
of the extension, which is constructed in white Kemnay
granite. This locally quarried stone is the same material
that the external walls of the existing theatre are
constructed. Pre-patinated copper is used as cladding
for the roof of the extension as well as the soffit over
the new foyer and for vertical panelling to the new stair
tower. This copper will continue to patinate until it is
the same pale green as the existing theatre’s dome
which is also clad in copper. The new extension has
been designed in a simple modern style which neither
tries to mimic or compete with the existing building or
it’s historic neighbours. When viewed from the outside
the extension has a neutral, restrained almost
monochrome colour scheme, the colour, movement
and vibrancy coming from the buildings users and
interior lighting scheme.
Programme
Work on the extension commenced in August 2003.
The existing theatre closed to the public in March
2004 to allow the alteration and refurbishment works
to commence and the entire project was completed
in late August 2005 in time for the Gala opening,
which was attended by the Earl of Wessex on the
8th September 2005.