Architects Release New Images of Plans for Olympia London
As H&F Council considers planning applications for redevelopment of 14 acre site
The pictures have come from architects Heatherwick Studio and SPPARC Architects, who are designing the project for Olympia London's owners, Yoo Capital and Deutsche Finance.
The planning application for the redevelopment of the 14 acre site envisages adding two new boutique hotels, co-working spaces and restaurants, including pop-ups and organic eateries, plus a four-screen arthouse cinema, a 1,000-seat performing arts space, a 1,500-seat theatre, performance and rehearsal space, a new jazz club-style restaurant and venue, shops, cafés, hotels and new public space including pedestrianised squares and a sky garden.
The historic façades on Olympia Way will be fully restored and spaces, such as the historic Pillar Hall, will be opened to the public.
The full application, which is open for comments from the public, can be found here.
A second application, also open for comments, for redevelopment of land and buildings east of Olympia Way, can be found here.
Heatherwick Studio group leader Eliot Postma said: "Olympia London as a venue has always been generous given the impressive size of the original halls. Our work here has largely been about making the site generous from the outside too, opening up over 0.8ha of space and creating new permeability."
Yoo Capital chairman John Hitchcox said: "The masterplan represents a phenomenal opportunity to invest in the existing exhibition business, while opening Olympia London up to the whole community by providing new cultural facilities in the arts, music and entertainment.
"We are particularly delighted to be able to offer a new world-class theatre as part of the masterplan. If approved, it would be the first theatre of its kind built in London in generations, and would represent a significant investment in the arts."
The exhibition centre was sold to the consortium by Earls Court developer Capco in the spring of 2017 for £296 million.
Olympia, which first opened its doors in 1886, is currently host to 1.6 million visitors at both trade and consumer shows and exhibitions, but the owners say they are hoping to transform it into a "year-round destination in its own right."
For further details of the new plans, visit Olympia London Future and Olympia London Share the Future.
December 7, 2018
