Regent’s Park’s Open Air Theatre is one of London's best secrets. It was built with a Sylva kit in just three weeks and has remained a firm fixture in London’s arts calendar, attracting over 130,000 visitors each summer.

Regent's Park Open Air Theatre was built with Sylva™ CLT Floors and Roofs, Sylva™ CLT Walls This project, undertaken in phases, showcases the innovative use of Sylva to create a series of functional and aesthetically pleasing buildings within a sensitive and historic site.

Background

The Regent's Park Open Air Theatre, a beloved London landmark, has undergone several redevelopment phases to enhance its facilities while preserving its unique charm. The theatre, originally designed by Howell, Killick, Partridge, and Amis, has been a cultural hub since the 1930s. The first significant redevelopment phase began in 2012, led by Haworth Tompkins Architects. This phase included the construction of new backstage areas, such as offices, dressing rooms, wardrobe areas, and workshops. The front of the building saw the addition of a new box office and a sheltered seating canopy.

Use of Sylva kit

Sylva was chosen for its numerous benefits, including its environmental credentials, aesthetic potential, and lightweight nature. The material was sourced from sustainably managed forests in Austria and manufactured by Stora Enso. The use of prefabricated elements facilitated a streamlined construction within the six-month window between theatre seasons, minimizing disruption to the theatre's operations.

Construction Process

The construction process was carefully planned to ensure minimal disruption to the theatre's operations and the surrounding environment. The prefabricated CLT panels were manufactured off-site and then transported to the site, where they were quickly assembled using a small crane. This offsite construction method not only sped up the building process but also improved safety and reduced pollution in the surrounding roads.

In 2018, Reed Watts Architects continued the redevelopment of the theatre with the construction of a new two-storey building. This building provides 480 square meters of rehearsal, catering, and administration space.

Overall look

The design of the new buildings at the Regent's Park Open Air Theatre blends seamlessly with the natural surroundings. The use of unfinished and dark-stained larch for the external skins of the buildings helps them merge with the landscape.

Project information

Start on site September 2011 Completion April 2012