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Saturday, October 24, 2009

Bringing An Old Theatre To Life

By Jamie Cawasaki

Around London and many other cities throughout the world, there are any number of "pleasure palaces" that have long ago outlived their original use. Once glorious buildings have fallen into decay. How can these relics of the past be transformed and once again have a use?

These days it is beneficial to the environment to transform an existing building rather than demolish and begin again, in situations where this is practical. Retaining the existing foundations and in some examples the outer facade of the structure can have less of an effect on the environment and will in many cases result in considerably less expense to the developer. But how can you transform an old derelict theatre? There are plenty of things that can be done! By applying a little imagination and architectural knowledge, these old buildings can once more play a part in the streetscapes of our cities.

Without a doubt, the decision whether to refurbish or rebuild is reliant upon the structural integrity of the building as well as the visual aesthetics. Does the building have a cultural significance? Does it exemplify a specific architectural period? Will the building appreciate as a result of the renovation? There are many such aspects that must be taken into consideration.

The following ideas are but four of many possible transformations of an old theatre.

Creating a Modern Theatre/Cinema Complex

This is without a doubt the clearest choice for such a structure. Providing updated entertainment facilities in a heritage building could be considered as the best of both worlds, partnering the romance of the pleasure palace with state of the art technology as demanded by contemporary audiences. There are many old theatres that have been transformed in this way.

Depending upon the size of the original building and the demands of the locality, there is even scope for a small performance space, complete with change rooms, to satisfy audiences with a taste for live theatre.

Incorporating a Shopping Mall

This is indeed a way to increase revenue, especially when a building is situated in the heart of a city. Small specialty shops with a variety of goods for sale would boost the local economy and provide retail-based employment. Car parking spaces or the availability of public transport should be considered to attract the highest number of shoppers.

A Leisure Complex

A combination of a gym with healthy food stalls will attract time-poor city workers. Add to this combination a meeting space, possibly even a conference centre and the old theatre takes on a new role. A roof top garden, wherever possible, would create a haven for humans, allowing them to escape their stressful daily lives, even if only for a few minutes.

A Complex Of Residential Dwellings

City living is always appealing and residential spaces are at a premium in most cities. An old theatre can be transformed into a series of modern living spaces for those who love to be close to the action, or for those who do not wish to commute to work. Once again, the roof top garden can be an area where residents can share meals or simply unwind.

With some ingenuity and careful planning, these ideas are more than likely to be a success and the run down theatre will live again. - 23221

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