Architect revealed for Liverpool Royal Court revamp
The practice was also shortlisted for the prestigious Stirling Prize and is currently working on a new university in Amsterdam and a hotel, hospital and mixed-use scheme in Ghana.
Its design for the Grade II-listed Royal Court, featuring improved disabled and public access, was chosen by a panel of 10 judges from the regeneration, arts and architectural sectors, including the chair of theatre’s chief executive, Kevin Fearon, and English Heritage regional director Henry Owen John.
Chair of the judges and architect Roger Stephenson said the competition had been hard fought.
He said: “The quality of the 51 submissions in this competition was outstanding.
“It was difficult enough to short-list the second stage competitors, then challenging indeed to arrive at a final choice, having seen the presentations from the remaining seven.
“The finalist's submissions varied in emphasis, but all had great merit. In the end, there was a consensus that Allford Hall Monaghan Morris proposal best fitted the Theatre's aspirations and spirit.”
The newly-formed Royal Court Liverpool Trust is now in discussions with Liverpool City Council, which owns the building.
It is also working to raise the funding for the project, supported by Liverpool playwright Willy Russell.
He said: “In recent years, there’s been something of a real renaissance inside the walls of the Royal Court and so it’s very good news indeed that now the building itself is to receive some of the tender love and care that this great Liverpool landmark has long deserved.”
The Royal Court Liverpool Trust launched the open architecture competition last September, drawing up a short-list of seven architectural practices.
The plans were displayed on St George’s Plateau for 15 days when more than 900 members of the public gave their views on the schemes.
Rebuilt in 1938, the theatre has one of the country’s biggest revolve stages, outside the West End, and seats up to 1,250.
It has enjoyed a renaissance over the past three years presenting a programme of year-round popular theatre.
Allford Hall Monaghan Morris was founded 19 years ago by partners Simon Allford, Jonathan Hall, Paul Monaghan and Peter Morris, who studied together at the Bartlett School of Architecture, UCL.
The practice now has a team of over 120 members.
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