Commendation for Best Mixed-Use Development
SILENT SCREEN
Odeon Parade, 480 London Road, Isleworth, Middlesex TW7 4RL
The Odeon Isleworth opened in 1935, one of an astonishing 258 cinemas built by Oscar Deutsch in Britain in just ten years from 1931 until his death in 1941. He used some of the best architects and designers, but only 30 of these cinemas are listed, mainly because so many others have been demolished or altered out of all recognition in their transformation into bingo parlours or worse.
The Isleworth Odeon was designed by George Coles, ten of whose cinemas are listed by English Heritage. Sadly, Isleworth is not one of them, though it was included in an exhibition by English Heritage in 1996 to mark the centenary of the cinema as a building type. It closed in 1947 and the auditorium was gutted when the building was converted into Isleworth Studios for making films.
Frendcastle bought the building when the film studio closed. The loss of the original auditorium meant that the interior was no longer of historic interest. It was therefordecided to apply for planning permission the building, with the exception of the trade mark curved frontage and the parade of single-storey shops along London Road. Even though there was no planning requirement to do so, these sections of the origin al building have been restored to their original 1930s design.
The rest of the site was cleared to allow the construction of 21 private apartments for sale at prices from £135,000 to £350,000 and seven for social housing. These new apartments are designed in a contemporary style and arranged around a courtyard, with modern elevations to complement the Thirties frontage rather than copy it. In addition to the apartments, there is the restored parade of seven shops, seven live/work units. offices anmd a restaurant. Architects and developer are satisfied their mixed-use scheme retains the spirit of its Thirties origins without any pastiche. The judges agreed it is worthy of a commendation.
Homebuilder: FRENDCASTLE MANAGEMENT LIMITED
20 Mortlake High Street, London SW14 8JN
Tel 020 8392 6600
Fax 020 8392 6699
Website: www.frendcastle.co.uk
Contact: Bill Bailey, Development Director.
Email: wgb@frendcastle.co.uk
Architects: EDWARD HILL PARTNERSHIP
The Studio, 9 Stratford Road, London W8 6RF
Tel 020 7938 4358
Fax 020 7376 1242
Website: www.ehp-architects.co.uk
Contact: Edward Hill, Partner.
Email: studio@ehp-architects.co.uk