Creating an inspirational working environment at the spot where Romeo and Juliet first premiered.
New Inn Broadway
Commercial office building and exhibition space
Gallus Studio has created an 1500 square meter office building with exhibition and performance space in London’s Shoreditch, with associated improvements to the public realm. The new building celebrates the site’s international importance as the location of the archaeological remains of The Theatre, now a scheduled monument, which was home to Shakespeare’s theatre company and pre-dates The Globe on the river Thames.
The Theatre opened during the reign of Elizabeth I and was the first polygonal purpose-built theatre. The new building draws on many Elizabethan references. Timber grid frames recall the facades of these early buildings, while window openings reflect that The Theatre is believed to be the place where Romeo and Juliet premiered.
“Through fair Verona, find those persons out
Whose names are written there, and to them say,
My house and welcome on their pleasure stay.”
A modern exhibition and performance space
Gallus Studio created a flexible exhibition space to bring the story of The Theatre to new as well as experienced audiences.
Conscious of the international importance of the scheduled monument a metre or so below the floor, Gallus set out to maximise all opportunities to provide an inspirational and well proportioned space.
The room is discretely serviced to the highest environmental and technical standards, suitable for exhibits on loan from museums and other institutions which relate to the life, work and times of Shakespeare.
Our pragmatic and imaginative approach makes the artistic concept work
Context as continuity
The site’s archaeology is allowed to leave a footprint on the modern space, giving visitors continuity with the internationally important literary heritage of the building. We worked seamlessly with exhibition designers Nissen Richards to develop the graphic language of the site. Warm oak insets pace the edge of the polygonal historic theatre building and the ghost of original stone flooring connects them to where audiences once stood to watch Shakespeare’s first plays.
Design with a sense of place
Our use of materials and detailing creates a harmonious flow between the public realm and the exhibition and performance space.
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