A brutalist setting for a brilliant red new theatre space from Haworth Tompkins

Date
11 April 2013

London’s South Bank is a favourite among filmmakers looking to add some Brit-glam to their movies, but the day-to-day reality is more prosaic. A big stretch of this area is dominated by concrete, brutalist structures which even their most ardent admirers must admit can lend it an aura of gloom. But The Shed, a new temporary auditorium for the National Theatre is changing that for a few months, adding a much-needed splash of colour to this corner of the capital. Architects Haworth Tompkins covered the structure in rough-sawn timber cladding with they then had painted a brilliant, vivid red creating a wonderful juxtaposition with the muted modernist surroundings.

And by employing two excellent photographers to document the new space, in the form of Philip Vile and Helene Binet (whose praises we sung a few weeks ago), it’s possible to get a real sense of just how big an impact it has had on the South Bank.

Above

Philip Vile: Haworth Tompkins – The Shed

Above

Philip Vile: Haworth Tompkins – The Shed

Above

Philip Vile: Haworth Tompkins – The Shed

Above

Helene Binet: Haworth Tompkins – The Shed

Above

Helene Binet: Haworth Tompkins – The Shed

Above

Helene Binet: Haworth Tompkins – The Shed

Above

Helene Binet: Haworth Tompkins – The Shed

Share Article

About the Author

Rob Alderson

Rob joined It’s Nice That as Online Editor in July 2011 before becoming Editor-in-Chief and working across all editorial projects including itsnicethat.com, Printed Pages, Here and Nicer Tuesdays. Rob left It’s Nice That in June 2015.

It's Nice That Newsletters

Fancy a bit of It's Nice That in your inbox? Sign up to our newsletters and we'll keep you in the loop with everything good going on in the creative world.