Watford Colosseum, orginally known as the Assembly Hall, opened its doors in 1938. The building, which is an integral part of the Watford Town Hall complex was designed by Charles Cowels-Voysey, the son of arts and crafts architect C.F.A Voysey.
The venue has always played host to a wide range of professional and amateur performances and civic functions, including classical music concerts, popular performances, comedy, banquets and dances. It is well regarded for its fine acoustics and is regularly used as a recording venue. The Colosseum was very much a performance building of its time – with limited public support spaces. This project refurbished and extended the building to enhance the audience experience within the hall and to provide much needed foyer and front-of-house facilities.
The new design strikes a careful balance, both being identifi ably a part of the Colosseum/Town Hall building – whilst also being a discrete addition. Bold cubic volumes resonate with the Grade II listed hall, whilst additional glazing helps to open up the activity within and raise the profile of the venue. The Lantern light acts as a visual beacon for those approaching from the Town Centre – whilst also forming an integral part of the natural ventilation strategy.
