Brixton Rec Tenpin Bowling Alley and Karaoke Rooms
Brixton Recreation Centre
We worked with London Borough of Lambeth to unlock the potential of three spaces on the lower ground level of Brixton Recreation Centre, by creating a three lane bowling alley in the historic shooting range and two karaoke rooms in the what once was the seating area for the indoor bowls area (now soft play and climbing wall).
Working within the parameters of the existing culturally-significant space, a strict programme and budget, we were able to deliver spaces which provide a sustainable additional source of revenue for the venue; built without impact on the business-as-usual workings of the site which remained open throughout.
Both new uses had technical requirements which needed to be carefully addressed, such as acoustic control and separation in the karaoke rooms, and accommodating lane and pinsetting equipment for the bowling alley. We did so whilst restoring and celebrating existing fabric such as the bare brick, quarry tile floors and waffle slab ceilings, and creating memorable and comfortable spaces that integrated within this brutalist setting through careful selection of material palette such as douglas fir and terracotta-toned acoustic panels.
Client: London Borough of Lambeth
Filed to: Public and Community
Historically a shooting range, the tenpin space was being used as a boxing gym and needed work to restore and celebrate its brutalist features. Now the waffle slab and brickwork can be enjoyed, whilst still allowing for community-created artwork and the integration of douglas fir and the lanes in a way that feels organic and natural within the space.
The spaces that now house the karaoke rooms were underutilised storage spaces. Through use of historic features such as the original dwarf-wall benches and quarry tiles, and careful co-ordination and concealing of services, the karaoke rooms bring new use for these spaces. Acoustic control is delivered through new acoustic panels and ceilings, as well a acoustically-sealed doors.
