Client: Chichester Festival Theatre
Location: Oaklands Park, Chichester, West Sussex
Cost: £13m
Area: 8 hectares
Project Type: Heritage & Culture
The practice teamed with Haworth Tompkins to develop proposals for the refurbishment and extension of this iconic, modernist Grade 2* Listed Theatre alongside the 'reintroduction' of its relationship with the wider public park.
Proposals confidently reviewed and refreshed the existing structure, seeking to set the building 'lightly' into its parkland context and reinforcing its public offer to the wider community with a new orchard and pictorial meadows. The refreshed front of house, decluttered and rebalanced in favour of pedestrians by way of a shared surface, provides a generous forecourt and gathering space for theatre goers transforming the ambience and experience of the environment at this juncture. New public realm is also shaped as café terraces providing commercial opportunities seamlessly integrated within the existing fabric, and a 'green room' for hospitality events.