Olympic Studios London by Simone McEwan

Previously a renowned recording studio for the who’s who of the 20th century music legends (think Rolling Stones, The Who, Prince, Nick Cave and Madonna), Olympic Studios in London has recently been transformed into an independent cinema, café, dining rooms, and a members club. The design concept was created by Simone McEwan, previously Concept Designer at Selfridges and Design Director at Soho House, who embraced the legacy of the building and translated it into every facet of the Olympic experience.

It first became a cinema in 1910, yet since 2009, its doors had been closed to the public. To reinvigorate the life within, of central importance was to engage the local community and provide a space for cultural exchange within an inclusive environment. It’s a meeting ground for good food, serious cinema and a place to reconnect with friends and make new ones, rather like being welcomed into a large family.

Olympic Studios has a strong connection to the heritage of the place but firmly looking forward. The design treatment allows moments of drama, such as the dark and shadowy lobby which opens out into contrasting spaces to encourage a sense of wonder and anticipation, beit the light-filled café and dining rooms or the throbbing red heart of the cinema, mixed with domesticity; warm and inviting areas, comfortable seating and friendly welcome throughout.

The raw frame of the building was all that remained of the original structure. From this ‘found space’, the design created beauty in its rawness, and instead of layering over it, respectfully added to it with a richness in materials, furniture and colours; plump and welcoming sofas, some vintage pieces for familiarity, sensual textiles and textures beit raw linen, felt or deep pile velvet. The solid materials make sense of and give identity to each space to create a feeling of belonging.

Now possibly more civilised than its 60s and 70s heyday, the spirit of the building lives on for future generations. The original doormat worn away over the years by the musicians who recorded there still survives… if only it could tell stories.