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Camden exhibition centre to reopen this week
The Camden Arts Centre will open to the public on 31 January after a £4.2m revamp.
Following an 18-month renovation period, the centre has been transformed into a fully accessible arts venue.
Improvements include a vehicle drop-off point at the front of the building, automated entrance doors to allow easy access and lifts for both visitors and artwork. The centre has also invested in a fully equipped ceramic studio.
The garden has also seen a major makeover. What once used to be largely marshland has now been transformed into greenery in the heart of the city.
Alex Robat, spokesperson for the Centre, revealed that while working on the garden, the architects made a startling discovery. “During the initial digging of the large garden, the developers discovered that during the World War 2, there had been two houses on the site,” she said.
“The houses were lost during the Blitz, but the footprints of the two domiciles are now restored using old maps and modern materials.”
Inside the building, Tony Fretton Architects have combined existing features, such as the entrance arches and stone dressed windows, with contemporary design to create more space to the site.
The architects have previously worked on the 2001 Exhibition at the Royal Festival Hall, the Lisson Gallery and The Red House in London.
The first exhibition to be held at the renovated venue will feature the work of Christopher Wool. In all, 17 new large-scale paintings from the artist will be put up for show between 31 January and 11 April. Details: www.camdenartscentre.org or head of development, Claire O’Brien: +44 (0)20 7472 5500