British Film Institute London

  • Design: 2001
  • Realisation: -
  • Client: British Film Institute
  • Gross Floor Area: 19,000m2
British Film Institute London

When the British Film Institute decided on a major reconfiguration and relocation of the existing facilities in London, three architects were invited to submit proposals for a new centre. Offering one of the largest concentrations of the arts in Europe, the South Bank redevelopment on the River Thames was proposed as its’ new location. Integral part of this dynamic area would be the resulting Film Centre, comprised of the National Film Theatre with five auditoria, the Museum of Moving Image, a library, temporary exhibition space plus public facilities and office space. All these different elements of the programme form a complex synergy that requires clear orientation within the complex. The design by Erick van Egeraat seeks to optimise the possibilities and potentials expressed in the master plan for the location as well as enhance the identity and recognisability of the four main components of the programme. It includes a building beneath an elevated landscape that ranges from one to three storeys in height, or depth, depending on the perception of the viewer. Different circulation routes are provided allowing visitors the option of either fast or slow travel through and within the building. The inverted, central exhibition area provides a void in the landscape that connects the four components of the complex and creates a central orientation space that is accessible from all vantage points.

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