World-Renowned Architect Working On Wimbledon Concert Hall Plans
State-of-the art auditorium could be built on a town centre car park
World-renowned architect Frank Gehry is now drawing up more detailed plans for a concert hall in Wimbledon town centre.
The update on a project for a 1,250 seat auditorium on the council-owned car park, off Sir Cyril Black Way, behind Morrisons, was revealed soon after details of a Centre for Music proposal for the City of London were announced.
The long-standing campaign for a concert hall for Wimbledon has yet to receive the backing of Merton Council. It is being led by Anthony Wilkinson, founder of the Wimbledon International Music Festival and has Wimbledon resident Darcey Bussell among its patrons.
She said: "The great concert halls of the world have the power to change lives and inspire, to leave a strong intergenerational legacy. London has a great need for a world-class hall and Wimbledon can offer the perfect side. The Wimbledon Concert Hall proposal is one not to be missed. The residents of the greater Merton area will thank you for years to come.”
The plans would provide a flexible space that would be a "world class" concert hall as well as a potential host venue for events such as the Wimbledon BookFest.
The scheme is now being drawn up in detail, with Frank Gehry - architect of the world-famous Guggenheim Museum in Bilbao (left) - agreeing to work on the designs after Anthony Wilkinson contacted him.
The plans have already attracted £1m in funding, but it is understood that £60m-£65m would be needed to fund the cost of construction.
February 14, 2019