Award winning architects Haworth Tompkins appointed to work on Odeon transformation

Haworth Tompkins is thrilled to be working with Ashford Borough Council on the transformation of the former Odeon cinema building into a vibrant new cultural and community venue in the heart of Ashford.

Appointed alongside Price & Myers, Skelly & Couch, and Bristow Consulting, the team has developed a Strategic Vision and Concept Design that reimagines the historic 1930s cinema as a flexible and welcoming civic asset which is sustainable, accessible, and financially resilient.

The project builds upon the Council’s ambition to restore the building’s distinctive art deco frontage and bring renewed High Street activation, while creating a range of adaptable spaces for performance, events, creative arts and community use.

The concept design and accompanying business plan were approved at Cabinet on the 12 March, marking a significant milestone and enabling the project to move into its next stage of development.

Talking at the time, Cllr Noel Ovenden, Leader of the Council said: “This project marks a major step toward revitalising one of Ashford’s most recognisable assets, along with continuing to create a strong cultural offer for the town, and I’m pleased to see it progressing with real momentum. I fully support the exciting concept designs and the initial business plan considerations.”

Lucy Picardo, Director, Haworth Tompkins, said: “We are delighted to be working with Ashford Borough Council and the wider team on a project which places culture at the heart of Ashford’s ongoing town centre regeneration.

“This is a rare and exciting opportunity to reactivate a much-loved local landmark and return it to public use. Our approach has been to work with the building’s historic character, celebrating its heritage while carefully adapting it to support contemporary cultural and community functions.”

Building upon our extensive experience in delivering cultural heritage projects including 'NT Future’ for the National Theatre, The Weston Studio for Bristol Old Vic and Ustinov Theatre for Theatre Royal Bath, we are well placed to work with all the partners and stakeholders to deliver Ashford Borough Council’s ambitious vision.

About Haworth Tompkins

Haworth Tompkins is a Stirling Prize-winning architecture practice with a diverse body of work and an international reputation for thoughtful, well-made and beautiful buildings. We enjoy crafting convivial, vibrant spaces that are welcoming and engaging, acknowledged internationally as among the world’s most accomplished public building architects.

We understand the need for respectful restoration, accessibility and technical rigour to ensure spaces can fulfil their full potential and we appreciate the broader cultural landscape, having worked with many leading cultural organisations across the UK and worldwide.

Haworth Tompkins has designed over thirty performing arts projects, which together have won dozens of major design awards, including 50 RIBA Awards and the RIBA Stirling Prize for the Liverpool Everyman Theatre. Our completed buildings continue to be much loved by clients, audiences, artists, visitors and staff alike - the essential measure, we think, of our buildings’ success.

Notable projects include: Theatr Clwyd, Backstage Building at The Old Vic, American Repertory Theater, Harvard, Malmö Stadsteater Hippodromen, The Court Theatre, NZ, @sohoplace, Lightroom King’s Cross, Young Vic, Chichester Festival Theatre, Royal Court, The National Theatre, Bridge Theatre, Bristol Old Vic, Theatre Royal Drury Lane, Battersea Arts Centre, Regent’s Park Open Air Theatre, Ustinov and The Egg for Theatre Royal Bath.

For more information, click here to visit our dedicated Odeon project webpage.