Inverness is a city situated in the north east of Scotland, on the edge of the Highlands and is considered the only administrative centre for the theatrical arts. The first theatre to be built in the city was completed in 1805; however, it burnt down during the war. Later in the 1960’s Inverness was housing a population of around 30,000 but the council expected this figure to increase due to new city developments.
In the early 1960’s the city council decided to develop and expand the Inverness riverbank into a commercial area. They wanted to build social spaces in the city such as libraries, art galleries, retail stores, offices and museums. At the time, Inverness already had a small theatre but it was demolished in 1971 in order to accommodate for a new dramatic arts space. The growing city needed a more modern approach to theatrical design and so the city council appointed Architects, Law & Dunbar-Naismith to commission a much larger and practical public realm for Inverness: Eden Court Theatre.
The project consists of a new, modernist building that connects directly onto the existing Episcopal Palace that is situated on the beautiful banks of the river Ness. The palace was originally built in 1878 for Bishop Eden (from which it takes its name) and designed by Alexander Ross, who had previously designed the cathedral adjacent to the site. After much …show more content…
The hexagonal shapes of the building arise naturally from the footprint of the building and help to maximise views out over the river from the atrium and the remaining Palace. The walls of the main auditorium are visible from the outside, they rise above the complex geometry of the diamond shaped windows and Lozenge pitched roofs to suggest a sense of purpose. The dramatic profile of the building was carefully composed to consider the surrounding buildings and oppose the riverfront façades to create a unique and rational addition to the river
In the early 1960’s the city council decided to develop and expand the Inverness riverbank into a commercial area. They wanted to build social spaces in the city such as libraries, art galleries, retail stores, offices and museums. At the time, Inverness already had a small theatre but it was demolished in 1971 in order to accommodate for a new dramatic arts space. The growing city needed a more modern approach to theatrical design and so the city council appointed Architects, Law & Dunbar-Naismith to commission a much larger and practical public realm for Inverness: Eden Court Theatre.
The project consists of a new, modernist building that connects directly onto the existing Episcopal Palace that is situated on the beautiful banks of the river Ness. The palace was originally built in 1878 for Bishop Eden (from which it takes its name) and designed by Alexander Ross, who had previously designed the cathedral adjacent to the site. After much …show more content…
The hexagonal shapes of the building arise naturally from the footprint of the building and help to maximise views out over the river from the atrium and the remaining Palace. The walls of the main auditorium are visible from the outside, they rise above the complex geometry of the diamond shaped windows and Lozenge pitched roofs to suggest a sense of purpose. The dramatic profile of the building was carefully composed to consider the surrounding buildings and oppose the riverfront façades to create a unique and rational addition to the river