Environmental Study

South Elevation / Russell Street

Improvement and extension proposals for the Royal Opera House and adjoining sites have been considered over the last twenty years. A number of schemes have been submitted for planning consent, some successful. All have been the subject of rigorous debate due to the potential impact on local interests and this historic site of international importance. At the time of writing, new proposals by architects Jeremy Dixon, Edward Jones and BDP are again under consideration. The site presents the opportunity to demonstrate how to design a new building that maintains and enhances a Conservation Area of international importance. Local consultees including the Covent Garden Area Trust have made separate comments to the planning authority. The comments presented here reflect these observations and those guidelines and ideas that have been prepared as part of this study. The most significant idea, that could be considered in any redesign of the proposals, is an improved means of integrating the external video screen. This could be a modern temporary structure, designed to extend across Russell Street

THE PIAZZA - North East
The contrast between the Clutton-designed Bedford Chambers building and the new arcade building will be very stark. It is assumed that this approach is unlikely to be capable of modification at this stage, however desirable. The important issue of ground floor retail uses and controls, shopfront form, detailing and signage is a most important subject that should be considered. To avoid the accretion of clutter so obvious at Bedford Chambers, a policy of no tables and chairs in the arcade should be a condition of any planning consent. Rubbish storage and disposal should not include on-street bins or collection points. Detailed consideration should be given to the means of preventing pigeon roosts. There should be an integrated design system for siting of cabling, lights, CCTV installations, hanging signs - all with long-term maintenance in mind. The detailing of shopfronts should ensure that the ground floor elevation respects the richness of the traditional shopfronts in the area. This should include hardwood joinery and a suitable interpretation of classically proportioned elements. The surface treatment of the arcade should be in accordance with the strategy for the Piazza : York Stone footways and granite sett carriageways. The line of the York Stone footway should follow the King Street alignment and not end, as last illustrated, on the outer face of the column line. The Floral Hall Piazza elevation should be reused within the development.

RUSSELL STREET
The proposed entrance to the Royal Opera House is at the junction of the two arms of the new arcade. The small gathering space at this point is of awkward configuration. The important long view from the Russell Street side appears to terminate in a blank wall which is likely to become cluttered with signage and Opera House advertising. The grand, but redundant, doorcase in the flank wall of No. 43 King Street might provide suitable inspiration for an improved approach. This detail should be carefully considered in conjunction with the lighting scheme. The crest at first floor level above the entrance to the arcade could be carefully illuminated to match the proposals for the other equivalent details in the area. The overtly modem approach for the principal section of Russell Street, culminating in an eagle sculptural feature, seems a simplistic replacement for the current historic buildings. The texture and scale of brick and stucco and the proportions of traditional windows, that are common throughout the area and especially in the buildings on the south side of Russell Street, will be at odds with the proposed treatment. The introduction of repetitive, large porthole windows at high level is an unfortunate contrast with the general attempt to break the facade into vertical units. As in the arcade, the most significant area that maybe capable of improvement at this stage is the ground floor shopfronts.