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olympia, london Thomas Heatherwick, Founder and
Design Director of Heatherwick Studio, said: “Olympia has long-held a special place in the hearts of Londoners, sitting at the centre of our city, hosting so many incredible events, yet remaining a place many were only able to experience on rare occasions. “Our work over the last nine years has been about opening it up so anyone can enjoy it, whether they’re going to a play, a music concert, an exhibition, or simply wandering around. “We’ve reimagined it as part of London’s
everyday life again, creating a new public street raised up in the air, sitting on top of the existing heritage halls. It’s surrounded by London’s largest theatre to open in 50 years (opening 2027), a new performance venue, two hotels, offices, plus lots of places to sit and eat and be together. It is now a place where you can feel the city’s energy. The new Olympia reflects a quiet confidence, showing that we can take extraordinary British heritage and adapt it with care, imagination and purpose for the future.” Eliot Postma, Partner and Group Leader
at Heatherwick Studio said: ”We haven’t sought to impose something new but learn from what’s already there, working with Olympia’s Victorian structure – its span, rhythm, and generosity. “The real challenge was how to intervene
at this kind of scale without losing the things that make this place special. The Canopy is a really complex piece of engineering that had to sit lightly within a historic setting, unlock movement across
the site, and create a new space for London. “Together, we’ve turned an inward-
looking venue into something much more connected and human. Somewhere culture and community can thrive.” Trevor Morriss, Principal at SPPARC,
commented: “It has been a privilege in our role as architects to reimagine Olympia as one of London’s most iconic destinations. Drawing inspiration from the site’s Victorian and early 20th-century heritage, as well as the remarkable legacy of events that have animated its exhibition halls for more than 140 years. Our vision has been to create a destination fit for contemporary London, a place where work, culture, entertainment and innovation come together within a vibrant and dynamic urban destination of layered uses. “The return of the ‘People’s Palace’ –
originally conceived in 1886, is now once again a destination for everyone. The British Airways ARC brings world-class performance and creativity to an intimate, state-of-the-art setting that builds on Olympia’s enduring cultural legacy. Rooted in its past yet designed for the future, the new era of Olympia is an important part of the story that will ensure London remains one of the world’s most stimulating places to visit, work, and play.” Michael Volkert, CEO of Olympia said:
“Olympia is one of the most ambitious regeneration projects in the world, brought to life through a collaborative design process with Heatherwick Studio and SPPARC. We are delighted to begin
our new phase of openings this summer, starting with a collection of rooftop restaurants and bars, as well as British Airways ARC, with further openings to follow throughout the season and beyond. Complementing these new public spaces is 550,000ft2 of state-of-the- art office space, designed to provide an outstanding workplace where businesses and their people can thrive, supported by exceptional amenities and a vibrant mix of culture, hospitality and entertainment. This marks the beginning of a new chapter for Olympia, establishing it as a new jewel in London’s cultural landscape and further strengthening West London’s place on the map.” Once fully complete, the 14 acre site will
feature a range of cultural and commercial spaces including: • British Airways ARC: a 3,800-capacity live entertainment venue operated by AEG Presents (now open) • British Airways Theatre: 1,575 seats, the largest new permanent London theatre in almost 50 years (opens in 2027) • Hospitality: new hotels from Hyatt Regency and citizenM and a host of new places to eat and drink • Commercial and Community: 550,000ft2 of creative offices • Wetherby Pembridge: a new co- educational senior school focusing on academia, sports and the creative arts, operated by the Inspired Education Group (opened Sept 2025) Olympia’s annual footfall is estimated to
reach approximately 10m across the whole destination and contribute over £600m to the UK economy each year.
Image: Raquel Diniz
Image: Hufton+Crow
Image: Hufton+Crow
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