Evaluation
Within its urban context the Hippodrome now stands as an important landmark, bordering Birmingham's China Town. The site, cut off from the city centre by the Smallbrook Queensway highway, is now firmly part of the regeneration of Birmingham. The project has successfully reinforced, updated and added to an existing cultural focus.
The making of `a sense of place' has been achieved and the drama of theatre taken onto the street with the glazed entrance foyer elevation. Its theatrical presence has enhanced the quality of the public realm by giving definition to the pedestrian area in front of the theatre. At night, the Entrance Foyer spaces are clearly on display and also allow patrons to enjoy views across the city. Sadly the 'interactive' external screen has yet to be utilised, but the facility to make an outdoor public arena remains. The architects carefully positioned the screen so that the National Trust's proposed renovation of the back-to-back houses just beyond the Hippodrome would not be obscured. The stage door, Thorp Street block has a strong identity and street presence, which is a welcome contrast to the postmodern facade of the BRB building.
The intervention off Thorp Street successfully incorporates a variety of functions and activities. A beautiful dance studio for BRB and a new performing arts theatre with an independent Thorp Street entrance are among many welcome additions. Acoustic isolation of some of the spaces required particular structural solutions and the brief requirement for 'openness' has resulted in a carefully crafted top lit atrium that also gives the additional benefit of energy conservation, including bringing natural light and ventilation to the dressing rooms in the basement.
Not only have the designers demonstrated their consummate skill in integrating new build with existing structures and achieving a feeling of transparency within the building, they have also shown a mature and sophisticated level of understanding in the refurbishment of the auditorium itself. The qualities of the Edwardian auditorium have been enhanced by a restrained approach to the restoration.
There are many other touches that contribute to the success of this project. The reducing width of the entrance foyer accentuates the visual drama of the journey to the full height atrium housing the bars, stairs and lifts. The entrance foyer stairs and the access ramp are given equal precedence. Colour is used to signal important elements. The scheme, including the seating, is informed by some of the rich shades of Balraj Khanna's painting. Crimson, purple, plum, cream and silver have replaced the 70's brown and beige and combine with pine panelling, stainless steel balustrading, mirrors and glass to provide a rich theatrical backdrop.
The Birmingham Hippodrome project has been a huge exercise in rationalising and meshing together what existed into a coherent whole with skilful interventions and additions, adding up into more than the sum of its parts.
