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Wembley Arena
Date: 2006
Interior design
Client: Wembley London Limited
Bringing an iconic 1930’s building up to date, creating some West End glamour in an East end setting and restoring a treasured building to its prime; the refurbishment and re-orientation of Wembley Arena is one of the most important aspects of the Wembley regeneration masterplan.
Previously lacking suitable refreshment and hospitality spaces, PRP’s design includes a new feature restaurant and bar overlooking a double height foyer. Together with new areas for hospitality and state-of-the-art equipment, the new Wembley Arena rivals other European venues in its ability to host groundbreaking and spectacular events and live shows.
Remaining sympathetic and true to the original 1930’s Owen Williams concrete structure has revealed and enhanced the building’s original beauty and simplicity of design.
The geometry of the new restaurant spaces is in keeping with the simple geometry of the building, enhanced by a limited but skilfully applied palette of materials and colours. The original building has a strong symmetry around a central axis which has been maintained by a set of two feature staircases in the foyer which mirror each other, their concrete and steel construction only adding to the dramatic effect.
Interior lighting again makes reference to the 1930’s origins of the building, providing concealed cove lighting and a hint of art deco drama to public spaces.
The relationship between the interior of the restaurant and the outlook onto the new square was of particular significance, together with the rhythm of the glazing and the changing light patterns through day and night. These light patterns were given physical form in the delicate sandblasting of the continuous glass screen which surrounds a triple height void linking the restaurant and foyer.
The end result is a timeless design solution which will not date dramatically, but is in keeping with the existing context and appropriate to the practical requirements and client expectations for this project. We achieved a well detailed, high quality design within an extremely tight programme.
Wembley Arena’s grand re-opening takes place in March 2006.