“Green” costume centre for Royal Opera House
Design for the Royal Opera House Costume Centre in Thurrock. Image: © Nicolas Hare Architects
The Royal Opera House is getting a ‘green’ costume centre for more than 20,000 outfits used in its opera and ballet shows.
It will be home to another 6,000 items from the arts organisation’s historical collection dating back the 19th century.
The costume centre will sit next to the production workshop where all the ROH’s sets and scenery are made on a 14-acre site in Thurrock.
At the moment costumes are stored all over the country from Aberdare to Dover.
Having all the costumes in one place, closer to the opera house in Covent Garden, means the stock can be managed more efficiently and reduce road mileage, transport costs and carbon footprint according to architects Nicholas Hare.
The building is designed to the highest environmental standards and is hoped to achieve the BREEAM excellent status.
Building began in July after a “turning the turf” ceremony.
In 2012 the Royal Opera House expected its energy costs to rise to £1 million. It joined an “Arts Basket” in 2012 to trim these costs.
