Carnival Arts Centre Luton, Development, Architect, English Project, Bedfordshire Property News

Carnival Arts Centre Luton Building

New Building in Bedfordshire, southeast England, UK – design by Ash Sakula Architects

25 Jun 2010

Carnival Arts Centre

Location: Luton, Bedfordshire, south east of England, UK

Architects: Ash Sakula

photograph © Paul Riddle

RIBA Award winner, 19 May 2011

The centre for carnival arts is a bold attempt to recreate the sense of an arts community that has developed in an ad-hoc way over a period of time.

photo © Paul Riddle

The site planning is simple and straightforward, being conceived as a group of buildings focused around a yard. It is the antithesis of the Arts Centre.

photo © Paul Riddle

Each building has a different character in both form and expression and, while there is some consistency in the use of materials, there is a clever mismatch in how these are expressed, creating a feeling of using what was to hand.

photos © Paul Riddle

This loose-fit detailing allows the spaces to be inhabited in a relaxed yet creative way that is entirely appropriate to the spirit of Carnival.

Photos below by Morley von Sternberg, Jun 2010

UK Centre for Carnival Arts – Building Information

Location: Luton
Architect: Ash Sakula Architects
Client: UK Centre for Carnival Arts
Contractor: Apollo Property Services Group
Contract Value: £ 3.9 million
Date of completion: Mar 2009
Gross internal area: 1420 sqm