CLAWSA Visits; reviews:

Visit to the Royal Opera House

On the 17th February 1999 a group of 18 members of Clawsa were shown around the Royal Opera House by Charles Broughton, of BDP Jeremy Dixon. We assembly in the local office on Shelton Street where the scheme was explained and then proceeded to the site to be dresses in hard hats, jackets and boots. We were shown the new experimental theatre in the basement and followed the route from the scenery store past the stage and into the recently completed Floral Hall which will act as the theatre bar. The Auditorium followed and this has been completely refurbished and the stalls floor relaid to improve sightlines. The seating has been modified to increase the capacity of about 2500 by a further 80 seats with much improved provision for wheelchair users. In the upper areas are three new dance studios and a public gallery with a marvellous view over the Covent Garden Market Square The backstage areas have been trebled in area and the fly tower doubled in height to about 50m. The area is subdivide by sound proof doors some of which weigh 70 tonnes. Scenery is transported on 15m x 5 m pallets which follow a system of rail tracks across the stage and into the rehearsal areas. Scenery is delivered from road level in to a lorry lift, which lowers the whole vehicle to the basement for unloading. The whole experience was most impressive and we hope to return in the autumn prior to the official opening in December.

Visit to Michael Hopkins and Partners Office

On Wednesday 10th March 99 19 Clawsa members were shown around the Office of Michael Hopkins and Partners by Patrick Nee, the Architect leading the Team working on the New Parliamentary Building (NPB). The offices are very impressive in themselves and incorporate a large studio in a relocated example of the Patera system developed by the practice and reconstructed after many years in the North-East. We were shown the spread of current projects ranging from a millennium centre in Edinburgh to substantial new buildings for Nottingham University and a round up of the more famous Hopkins products including the Schumberger Laboratories in Cambridge and Bracken House in the City of London. Obviously the high point of the visit was a detailed description, with models and current progress photographs of the NPB. Patrick was quite open about the recent press coverage on the cost of the project and outlined the unique aspects of the building which justify the expenditure which has mainly increased due to problems with the Jubilee Line Station below the building. He pointed out that it was an office building for 200 Managing Directors and that the security aspects, a design life of 120 years and high design expectations of the client preclude comparison with normal office buildings.