ROYAL OPERA HOUSE
OTHER NEW ELEMENTS
Alongside the core construction project, there are
lots of other new elements. For example, the shop
has been remodeled, and even the products on
sale have been rethought.
There is now daytime catering and the first
floor’s restaurant, bar and terrace has been
remodeled, with the focus on making it more inviting for the
general public – not only those coming to an event. The terrace
in particular is now semi-enclosed and has radiant heaters so
that it offers a great view but is protected from the elements.
Other new daytime
activities including
opera and ballet
classes, tea dances
and exhibitions –
presided by a new
exhibitions manager.
24 AUDITORIA 2019 VOLUME ONE
is, if a building is listed, the entire building is
listed,” says Younger. “But Historic England
understands that the value of the 1995 staircase
is not the same as that of the grand staircase.”
An early task was to draw up a conservation
management plan, grading areas of historical
significance. Before this was created, any
changes, be they to move a light switch in a backof
house area, or to make a visible change in
the main theater, had to go through an approval
process that could take 12 weeks and cost £3,500
(US$4,585). Younger says that the document
enables them to make certain changes in ‘green
areas’ of the building, bypassing this process.
Neighborly behavior
There were also regulations to control the noise
of the building work. There was a public
consultation, a noise hotline for complaints, and
decibel level limits were set for various points of
the day. There were a few neighborly complaints,
but Younger says it wasn’t a massive issue, noting
that Covent Garden is a very noisy place anyway.
Acoustic walls were used to isolate building
work noise from practicing musicians, but
sound limits were also in place based on the
opera house’s schedule for performances and
rehearsals, which is set three or four years ahead.
“We were able to tell contractors, ‘On February 7
at 3:00pm, this is the amount of noise you will be
able to make,’” says Younger. “Constraint is much
easier if you know what you’re dealing with.” n
they helped to support. The Paul Hamlyn Hall
is perhaps the most iconic part of the building,
and is used for dining and interval drinks. It
was built in the Victorian era as part of Covent
Garden – the Floral Hall. When the market was
redeveloped, half was relocated in the opera
house, and the other half in Borough Market.
“Historic England insisted the glass was put
back in with putty, which is why we’ve had such
problems,” says Younger. “We had to do this
incredibly complicated piece of engineering
where we basically transferred the load of the
hall onto a beam. That took about a month.
We had to have sensors all over. As a piece of
engineering, and as an operational theater, that
was pretty hairy. The amount of money involved
in a single performance is just eye-watering.
Anyway, nothing fell down and we didn’t lose a
single pane of glass. We had 1.8mm 0.07in of
tolerance, and it only moved by 0.8mm 0.03in.”
Listed status
The Royal Opera House is a Grade One listed
building, so any changes have to approved and
monitored by Historic England. “The odd thing
Photos: Hufton + Crow
Above: The semi-enclosed
terrace, intended as a public
meeting place
Above right: The remodeled
first-floor restaurant