Date: 11 April 08
Author: Caroline Ednie, Web Editor
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Opened in 1976, Eden Court Theatre plays a pivotal role in the cultural life of Inverness and the Highlands and Islands. In recent years it became clear that the theatre’s existing accommodation needed to be refurbished and extended in order to provide for a broader range of cultural activities and expand it’s conference facilities.
Eden Court appointed Page\Park to develop proposals for the following: a second theatre, 2 cinemas, 2 studios for dance/drama, new office & dressing room accommodation. The existing accommodation was to be refurbished with essential DDA provision, new café, restaurant, bars, box office and shop, toilets and meeting rooms.
Page/Park opted to present the new facilities as a third building element located on the south side of the 1976 building which mirrors its relationship with the adjacent Bishop’s Palace (also part of the theatre complex). The new theatre, studios and cinema are arranged to wrap around the existing building, stepping down to allow the formation of a cafe terrace overlooking the river and landscaped grounds. It is assembled under a simple roof, extending forward to provide cover to the external seating terrace: this creates an appropriate civic presence to the riverfront and to the city beyond. The asymmetry of the new extension and the design of the tall ventilation towers echo the form of the Bishop’s Palace.
The main entrance was re-orientated to address the city centre, and this new arrangement dramatically changes the character of the circulation in the original building with views opened up from all public front-of-house areas to the new garden. The works carried out to the Bishop’s Palace in the 1970’s adversely affected the arrangement and quality of the historic fabric. As a result the refurbishment works carried out have sought to undo this damage and to introduce public access into the principal ground floor areas of the house.
Following a design competition, new artworks are incorporated into the new building and include: the wind tower cladding; garden landform; foyer slate flooring; and glass windows.
Project: Eden Court Theatre & Cinemas
Architect: Page/Park Architects
Client: Eden Court Theatre
Location: Inverness
Link: http://www.pagepark.co.uk/
Images: Keith Hunter Photography
