Design process
Crispin Raymond Associates prepared a development brief for the clients, which formed the basis for the competitive interviews for the project in 1996.
Both Associated Architects, a local firm with a national reputation, and LDN Architects from Edinburgh, who were the designers of the Edinburgh Festival Theatre, impressed the clients in their respective competitive interviews for the project. A subsequent visit to one another's respective offices led to a decision that they could work together in a totally equal partnership. Paul Lister of Associated Architects describes the process of collaboration as a "one off", but an enjoyable one, "a forced marriage that worked well".
The design team state that a clear understanding of what existed formed the springboard for the design concept. Their analysis revolved around three issues - the strength and weaknesses of the site; the historic value and potential of the existing spaces; and the adjacent land acquisitions - and their potential to respond to the 21st century requirements of the Hippodrome. The retention and enhancement of the features of the Edwardian auditorium was literally and physically central to the design. The architects' strategic response to the brief was "to distil a wide range of aims and ambitions set by the Hippodrome into a solution that achieves for all the building's users a sense of cohesiveness, clarity, accessibility, practicality and delight".
The project involved commissioning a Public Art Consultant and collaboration with artists for major pieces of public art. Balraj Khanna was commissioned after a competition for a fire curtain design. Some of the colours of the latter were picked out and formed the palette for the interior decoration of the whole complex. The curtain was painted in-situ. Liz Rideal was responsible for the engraving on the fully glazed elevation to the grand staircase. Her curtain swag theme was felt to be particularly appropriate for a theatre.
Lottery funding and EU Grants were awarded to the project. Work began on site in April 1999 and was completed in October 2001.
