Young Vic

2006

Thom was senior architect on the external envelope of the Young Vic reconstruction project. The existing temporary venue for the renowned Young Vic Theatre on London’s South Bank had outlived its intended lifespan by 20 years when Haworth Tompkins won the commission to re-build their theatre.

Retaining the historic ‘butchers shop’ entry and famed in-the-round auditorium base, a greatly enlarged facility was constructed.

Despite being a new building, great care was taken to respect the rough-shod spirit of improvisation that is a hall-mark of the Young Vic.

The plan eschews tidiness in favour of colliding functional geometries, exploiting awkward corners and sectional differences to rich spatial effect.

A broad palette of low-cost materials further breaks down the building and prevents it being read as a single entity. Nowhere is this more apparent than the facades, where expanded aluminium mesh, artist-painted fibre-cement panels, bead-blasted concrete block, timber-framed glazing and special profiled bricks create a vivid play of textures.

Selected awards

  • RIBA Stirling Prize Shortlist 2008
  • Civic Trust Award: The Young Vic Theatre 2008
  • AIA/UK Award: The Young Vic Theatre 2008
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