Olympia London, London

About

The project will see the 130-year-old exhibition center, built as the National Agricultural Hall and set over a 14-and-a-half-acre site in Kensington, London, transformed into a world-leading arts, entertainment, exhibition, and experiential district whilst staying true to its original heritage as a ‘People’s Palace.’ One of key strategies is to improve connectivity within the site by using the public realm as the thread which ties together a variety of old and new buildings on the site, creating a unified campus. The public experience will be enhanced by dedicating at least 2.5 acres to new green public space including a number of pedestrianized squares. A sky garden will add more urban green space for visitors and the local community to enjoy. There will also be enhanced retail experiences whilst retaining the integrity of the original features of this iconic building by increasing the visibility of the original historic features. New amenities will include a new hotel, 1,500-seat theater, 1,000-seat performing arts space, a four-screen arthouse cinema as well as museums, 62,000 square meters of creative office space including co-working spaces, and innovative new restaurants.

Sources

• Arquitectura Viva