The redevelopment of London's Olympia exhibition centre features a dramatic bank of staircases and escalators rising Aztec-temple style to an elevated concourse between the original barrel-vaulted halls. This concourse is topped with a glass vault, crimped like a fan, described as a 'tiara of cubic zirconia among heritage diamonds.' Behind it looms a stepped office block with panoramic views from Wembley to Crystal Palace, already housing the Premier League's media production arm, complete with a mini football pitch on its terrace.
A historic venue transformed
Olympia has hosted events from Miss World to the Chemical Brothers. The Grand Hall, a vast iron and glass structure from 1885, has seen cat shows, concerts, and trade fairs like the Ideal Home Show, founded in 1908. In the 19th century, impresario Imre Kiralfy flooded the hall for a Venetian-themed spectacle. The venue also includes the Pillar Hall, where Vivienne Westwood held her first catwalk show, and the Empire Hall (now Olympia Central) with its jazz moderne facade.
A city within a city
Acquired by Yoo Capital in 2017, the £1.3bn redevelopment by Heatherwick Studio and SPPARC adds over 500,000 sq ft of office space, 30 restaurants and bars, two hotels, a conference centre, a gym, a 3,800-capacity music venue, and London's largest purpose-built theatre in 50 years. A new secondary school, Wetherby Pembridge, opened in September 2023 in a refurbished 1937 car park. The project aims to transform Olympia from an insular exhibition space into a public destination.
Public realm and design
Heatherwick Studio's Eliot Postma noted that the site previously had no public realm. The new Emberton Walk, a high-level thoroughfare, provides open public access to offices, performance spaces, and amenities. However, the indoor street currently features a digital ceiling described as a 'migraine-inducing' pulsating screen. The design incorporates pleated motifs inspired by the Grand Hall's faceted glass gable ends, with zigzag roofs, concertina balustrades, and crinkle-cut door handles.
Operational improvements
A new logistics centre streamlines operations, removing lorry traffic from streets. Olympia Way has been reconfigured as a landscaped boulevard, revealing restored Italianate facades and a sculptural tableau of Greek agricultural deities. Statues of Demeter and Persephone now overlook a transformed London. The redevelopment preserves the historic structures while adding modern amenities, ensuring Olympia remains synonymous with spectacle.
