Tara Arts Theatre, designed by Aedas’s cultural and arts team, has won the 2017 New London Architecture Award for best completed cultural and community project. The project will be exhibited alongside other award-winning projects at the New London Architecture Centre from July 21 to October 4. Designed by Julian Middleton, executive director of Aedas, Tara Arts Theatre is the latest flagship arts venue for Tara Arts, one of the UK’s oldest and most respected cross-cultural theatre companies. Newly renovated and reopened in 2016, Tara Arts Theatre blends international and local styles to create an inspiring creative space for the UK’s first cross-cultural theatre, becoming a bridge between Eastern and Western art. The theatre design incorporates Eastern elements, paying homage to its Asian roots in management and ownership, and highlighting Tara Theatre’s unique qualities in the UK theatre industry. The design also incorporates the pattern of the Bodhi tree, considered the “tree of life” in India, the shade under the tree also symbolizes the cohesion of the community. The “Tara Tree” surrounds the building facade, as if inviting the audience to enter the theatre to listen and share their stories, this unique exterior also creates a vibrant urban landmark. Tara Arts Theatre boasts a fully equipped, flexible and expandable theatre auditorium with a capacity of 100 seats, a brand new soundproof rehearsal room and other supporting facilities to meet the needs of contemporary performances and audiences. The theatre auditorium features a highly adaptable earthen floor, creating a natural and individualistic ground, vividly interpreting Asian culture in the fashion capital of London. 7,500 recycled bricks from the old theatre were used in the new theatre, and building materials were sourced locally whenever possible. The “Tara Tree” on the facade is 96% recycled material. The interior space is naturally lit, spacious and bright, with colorful louvers. Light from the high windows can provide daylight to the auditorium, which is a unique design. The New London Architecture Award aims to reward the best architectural, planning and development projects in London, the award is judged by an international panel of experts and covers new and proposed projects in various fields.
Project Information:
Architect: Aedas
Area: Not specified
Year: 2016
Photographer: Philop Vile
