Stirling Prize-winner seeks permission for six-floor extension to grade II* south London theatre
Haworth Tompkins has submitted new proposals for a six-storey annex at the Old Vic theatre in south London to planners at Lambeth council.
The practice’s plans would replace an existing three-storey building at the rear of the grade II*-listed theatre with an “exemplar” low-carbon extension, incorporating a timber frame, natural ventilation and solar shading formed of repurposed theatre lighting components.
Haworth Tompkins, which won the 2014 Stirling Prize for its Everyman Theatre in Liverpool, said the Old Vic Annex was designed to be a “welcoming destination for the local community as well as a much-needed expansion of the theatre’s working and engagement spaces”.
The annex, which will front Waterloo Road, will feature a triple-height street café and script library, a writer’s room, a Clore Learning Centre for education and participation activities, a new green room, and roof-top event space.
Haworth Tompkins said its proposals would also involve remodelling of the existing back of house spaces to achieve a fully accessible stage door, improved dressing rooms and staff offices, and the refurbishment of an existing rehearsal room to include a studio theatre space.
Bennetts Associates received planning permission for a range of upgrade work to the theatre in 2014. Work completed in 2019, however second-phase proposals to demolish the current building at 131 Waterloo Road for replacement with a five-storey annex were not implemented.
Last year the Old Vic said Haworth Tompkins had been appointed to renew proposals to create a community-focused social and creative arts hub on the site. The building was most recently used as a bar and restaurant called Hello Darling.
Haworth Tompkins said overall site works could start in June, with completion possible by spring 2024.
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