After nearly three years, the Royal Opera House in London has unveiled its refresh from local architecture firm Stanton Williams as part of its Open Up project, which aims to attract a wider range of audiences to its programming. As a result of the $66 million redesign, the famed venue will open to the public during daytime hours for the first time.
The revamp includes the addition of a second, 400-seat auditorium as well as the reconfiguration of the lobby on the ground floor. The lobby has been enlarged with a foyer that expands its overall footprint by 50 percent and allows access through two redesigned entrances. The new foyer is also outfitted with a café and expanded retail space crafted by Wadsworth, England-based interior design studio Drinkall Dean. A staircase leading to the lower lobby creates a double-height space apt for alternative performances as well. Equipped with abundant American black walnut and versatile seating configurations, the new Linbury Theater has been created in place of the former studio theater.
Designed by Dutch firm Studio Linse, an additional upgrade includes a new 230-cover F&B venue on the building’s upper level.
