Glenn Howells Architects create "dance factory" for English National Ballet
by Stu Robarts | 16 Mar 2020
– Glenn Howells
The English National Ballet (ENB) has moved into a new £27m ($33m, €30m) home in London designed by Glenn Howells Architects (GHA).
The 93,000sq ft (8,600sq m) building combines a number of previously separate ENB campuses into what it calls "a multi-faceted 'dance factory'".
The ground floor is conceived to be a gathering and circulation space, with a public café and an exhibition area.
Seven full-sized rehearsal studios include a main production studio with a stage and a 25m (82ft)-tall fly tower.
There are also dedicated spaces for engagement and learning, as well as the English National Ballet School, housed on the top two floors.
Elsewhere, there is a green room, treatment rooms, stretching areas and back-of-house spaces for technicians, set builders and costume creators.
Extra white translucent glass covering an area of 3,600sq m (38,750sq ft) allows natural light into the building and provides a connection between the inside and outside, with passersby able to see glimpses of rehearsals and other activities.
GHA was briefed to create a new focal point for dance in London and says one challenge was to fit the required facilities onto the site with a relatively limited budget.
“We achieved this by creating something that is elegant, pared-back and beautiful, but also hard-working," said Glenn Howells, director and founder of GHA. "The key has been designing the building so that its character is defined by a celebration of exposed raw materials such as concrete ceilings and translucent glass walls."
English National Ballet London Glenn Howells Architects dance
Extra white translucent glass allows natural light into the building Credit: Hufton + Crow
The ground floor is conceived to be a gathering and circulation space Credit: Hufton + Crow
There is a public café and an exhibition space Credit: Hufton + Crow
The 93,000sq ft (8,600sq m) building combines a number of previously separate facilities Credit: Hufton + Crow
The main production studio has a stage space and a 25m (82ft)-tall fly tower
There are seven full-sized rehearsal studios Credit: Hufton + Crow
There are also dedicated spaces for engagement and learning Credit: Hufton + Crow
The English National Ballet School is housed on the top two floors Credit: Hufton + Crow
Elsewhere, there is a green room, treatment rooms and stretching areas Credit: Hufton + Crow
There are back-of-house spaces for technicians, set builders and costume creators Credit: Hufton + Crow
The English National Ballet (ENB) has moved into a new £27m ($33m, €30m) home in London designed by Glenn Howells Architects (GHA). The 93,000sq ft (8,600sq m) building combines a number of previously separate ENB campuses into what it calls "a multi-faceted 'dance factory'". The ground floor is conceived to be a gathering and circulation space, with a public café and an exhibition area. Seven full-sized rehearsal studios include a
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