Southampton’s aspiration for a tall landmark development housing a council-funded arts complex at the base was turned on its head, by placing the cultural facilities centre stage and raising the bulk of the arts facilities above ground floor, to create valuable space and active frontages for cafés and restaurants and make the arts complex financially viable. 38 quality apartments above are carefully integrated, offering exclusive homes with exceptional views and bringing urban living to this part of the city.

Terracotta rainscreen cladding with a continuous uniform ‘net’ pattern wraps all volumes providing coherence. Illuminated auditorium boxes provide a night time landmark at roof level and limestone matching the Guildhall frames public uses. The ground floor restaurants and cafés animate the streetscape with lively shopfronts and seating and create new connections between cultural offers and potential audiences. The development offers a dramatic improvement to the sense of place and identity in the city centre.