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Parabola Arts Centre, Cheltenham Ladies’ College

Foster Wilson Architects, Cheltenham, 2009

 

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Phil Harvey     Download Original

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  • View of auditorium, in a new oval construction, from the gallery    
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  • Ground floor plan    
  • Lower ground floor    
  • First floor plan    
  • Second floor plan    
  • Section A-A    
  • Section B-B    
  • Roof section    
  • Sketch section through auditoreum showing natural ventilation path    
  • Materials board    
  • External wall detail    

Refurbishment of a grade II* listed Regency villa to provide front of house and teaching accommodation, combined with a new 325 seat auditorium connected via a glass link building

The aim of the project was to provide a school 325-theatre for Cheltenham Ladies' College, where sensitive neo-gothic buildings make up the surrounding context, within a Conservation Area.

The conversion of a semi-detached, Grade II* listed regency villa directly facing the main school building with its grand colonnaded portico has been converted into the theatre’s main entrance and front of house. The secocond semi-detached half has been converted into teaching and backstage spaces.

The 1970s office extension was swept aside to make way for a 730m2 new-build auditorium, comprising a gallery and stalls seating which can be modified to provide for a variety of stage layouts and an orchestra pit. A narrow link between the extension and the existing villa serves conveniently as a circulation core for all three wings.

Around the site, new landscaping has removed existing car parking and reinstated the original 19th century garden layout with perimeter hedging and carriage drive.

Data

  • Begun: Jan 2008
  • Completed: Jun 2009
  • Floor area: 730m2
  • Sectors: Arts and culture, Education
  • Total cost: £6M
  • Funding: Private
  • Procurement: JCT 2005 with quantities
  • Address: Cheltenham Ladies' College, Bayshill Road, Cheltenham, GL50 3EP, United Kingdom

Professional Team