The BAFTA headquarters of the British Academy of Film and Television Arts has been redesigned and expanded with new space. The changes were designed by architects from the Benedetti studio. The office had a difficult task because the London edifice has listed status.
The BAFTA headquarters was built in 1883 as the Royal Institute of Painters in Water Colour. The building, although beautiful, proved too small to meet modern needs. The historic edifice had just over 2,000sq m of space. The redevelopment managed to enlarge it by an additional 500sq m.
The biggest changes were made to the top floor, which is decorated with two huge Victorian skylights dating from 1883. The new top floor space now offers a brilliant view of the nearby church.
Also new is the shared cinema and theatre space. It offers 227 seats and, by the modern technology used, is considered the best cinema in the UK. Another interesting feature is the new meeting room, which was built using historic materials found during the works.
BAFTA’s home at 195 Piccadilly has been transformed through a stunning extension and redesign by Benedetti Architects, creating a world-class hub for new talent and a vital investment in the creative future of our industries. The redevelopment will provide BAFTA with a dedicated learning space for the first time, enabling us to dramatically increase the year-round work we do to find and support new talent, both in the UK and around the world. ‘It has been an absolute pleasure to work with Benedetti Architects over the past eight years to define this important new chapter in BAFTA’s history,’ said Amanda Berry OBE, BAFTA CEO.
The total budget for the development was £33 million.
design: Benedetti Architects
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