East wing of Sadler's Wells unfurls: 'impressive, nonchalant, and tastefully functional'
In the heart of London's Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park, a new cultural beacon has emerged – Sadler's Wells East. This striking, civic-minded public building, designed by architects Sheila O'Donnell and John Tuomey, is a testament to the power of dance and community.
The architects, who co-lead the firm O'Donnell + Tuomey, were instructed to create a straightforward, public building that welcomes people. The architecture, inspired by brutalism, features yellow-beige bricks and a unique saw-tooth roof design, with open facades that extend down to the foyer. The bricks and roof tiles used in the building were carefully chosen and are made of the same materials as the hard-wearing masonry in Venice.
Sadler's Wells East was designed with the needs of dance put first. The primary performance space allows for a range of configurations to suit different media within the artistic umbrella of dance. Adjacent to this space, dance studios have direct access to terrace spaces and are formatted as perfect cubes.
The new venue is an extension of Sadler's Wells Theatre, a world-famous performing arts venue in Islington. Known for its community work, Sadler's Wells has initiatives like the Company of Elders, a touring dance troupe for non-professional dancers over 60.
The first performances in east London will include dancers from local schools and community groups. In the spring of 2024, the new venue hosted a performance by New York City Ballet, the first time the company had performed in the UK in a generation.
Sadler's Wells East is part of a cultural community called the East Bank, with neighbours like the BBC's new Music Studios, UAL's London College of Fashion, UCL East, and the V&A East Museum & Storehouse. Across the way, the Zaha Hadid-designed London Aquatic Centre stands as a striking contrast yet complements the vibrant energy of Sadler's Wells East.
The building's design aims to not intrude on the movement and expression of bodies, reflecting its purpose as a dance performance space. Over almost a decade, this vision was brought to life, with Niall McLaughlin of O'Donnell + Tuomey leading the design and construction of the project.
In this new dance haven, bodies will move, express, and create, inviting the public to experience the beauty and power of dance in a setting that celebrates its essence.
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