Aberdeen theatre redevelopment to move on site
October 2 2013
Knight Property Group are developing the project on a speculative basis, making it the largest such scheme to break ground in the city.
This will see the front of house areas of the Capitol Theatre retained whilst land to the rear is cleared to make way for a 70,000 sq/ft office block, designed by Keppie.
An escalator will ferry occupants directly between retained and new build elements, which incorporate a mixture of stonework, glass and curtain walling.
James Barrack, director of Knight Property Group, said: “We have consulted with Historic Scotland during the planning process to ensure that many of the original art deco features within the building are retained and restored. As part of this, we are also working with the Aberdeen Theatre Organ Trust to remove the original Compton Organ carefully, piece by piece, so that it can be recovered, re-homed and displayed to the public at an Aberdeen location.”
The scheme is scheduled for completion in 2015
The granite facade of the theatre will be cleaned up
Upper floors will make their presence felt on Union Street
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4 Comments
#1 Posted by Lee Ivett on 2 Oct 2013 at 11:15 AM
I would love to give some level of measured critique to this, perhaps blame it on the quality of the visuals provided, but it does on first examination appear to be a horrid, depressing demonstration of the very worst kind of façade retention. It is going to be pretty difficult to appreciate all those fine art deco features that are being kept as you keep looking over your should to see a huge grey shite looming overhead
#2 Posted by Finlay on 2 Oct 2013 at 12:33 PM
I'd love to see the design statement that justifies, what appears to be a 6 storey roof extension. It just beggars belief that this can be seen as appropriate response. Are there any images that show this building within the context of Union Street, or from the rear at Justice Mill Lane?
Unfortunately for Aberdeen, architecture died in 1847 following the passing of Archibald Simpson and there seems to be a succession of 'architects' who are intent on destroying what is left of it!
Unfortunately for Aberdeen, architecture died in 1847 following the passing of Archibald Simpson and there seems to be a succession of 'architects' who are intent on destroying what is left of it!
#3 Posted by Lostthewilltolive.... on 2 Oct 2013 at 13:14 PM
Blimey, this is utterly appalling. Keppie/ Knight Properties and Aberdeen City Council should be ashamed.
“An escalator will ferry occupants directly between retained and new build elements” - what? like any other lift you mean, taking folk from the bottom of a building to the top of a building, genius. “Stonework, glass and curtain walling” - crikey don’t over do it eh guys? Is this really all they have to say about it....!?
“An escalator will ferry occupants directly between retained and new build elements” - what? like any other lift you mean, taking folk from the bottom of a building to the top of a building, genius. “Stonework, glass and curtain walling” - crikey don’t over do it eh guys? Is this really all they have to say about it....!?
#4 Posted by Al on 2 Oct 2013 at 17:55 PM
It was have way gone when a lot of it was ripped out twenty years ago to turn it into a mega-pub and club. To turn it back into a performance space / cinema as it was would cost a lot of cash.
I remember going to see Star Wars there and my old man falling asleep in the middle of it.
I remember going to see Star Wars there and my old man falling asleep in the middle of it.
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