Howden Arts Centre, Livingston Building, Scottish Project Design Images

Arts Centre Livingston, West Lothian

Howden Park Centre: West Lothian Arts Project design by Nicoll Russell Studios Architects

15 Jan 2010

Livingston, West Lothian, central Scotland

Date built: 2010

Design: Nicoll Russell Studios

Photos © Keith Hunter Photography

Howden Arts Centre Livingston building

Howden Park Centre

Howden Arts Centre Livingston

Situated largely within mature parkland, Howden Park Centre originally evolved in piecemeal fashion from a converted coach house into a popular but inherently limited arts centre. Nicoll Russell Studios were commissioned to redevelop the building as increasingly intensive use by professional and community groups highlighted the need for the building to expand considerably and resolve a range of issues if future needs were to be met in a fit for purpose environment.

Howden Arts Centre Arts Centre Livingston Livingston Arts Centre

The brief required a new 300 seat auditorium; dressing room accommodation; offices for several organisations; “black box” rehearsal space; dance, multi-purpose and art studios; and improved catering operations. The redeveloped building had to re-engage with both its setting and the local community.

Livingston Arts Centre Building Howden Arts Centre Livingston Building Howden Arts Centre Building

The design has been shaped to give the centre a greater presence within its landscape setting. A core of existing refurbished accommodation has been augmented with a major new extension. The auditorium roof is raised to announce its presence from afar and provides a “centre of gravity” to the assembly of new and existing forms.

A social heart (foyer, bistro and bar) is revealed through glazing facing captured landscape to the east, with the curved timber-clad auditorium anchoring the “flow” of this space and signalling the theatre within. The Youth Theatre has its own “snug” area within the foyer, designed in conjunction with both an artist and the members themselves, and exemplifying the collaborative, community focussed approach to the entire project.

Nicoll Russell Studios

Livingston Arts Building West Lothian Arts Centre Building Howden Arts Centre

New Arts Centre in Livingston images / information from Nicoll Russell Studios

Nicoll Russell Studio

Location: Howden Arts Centre, Livingston, Scotland

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image © Keith Hunter
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Comments / photos for the Howden Arts CentreLivingston Architecture design by Nicoll Russell Studios Architects page welcome