National Tennis Centre
Roehampton, London
Client: Lawn Tennis Association
The National Tennis Centre, designed by Michael Hopkins and Partners, with interiors by MoreySmith, was conceived by the Lawn Tennis Association as a centre of excellence to help re-focus the sport towards competitive achievement, especially by juniors. The crux of the interiors brief was to reflect the LTA's aim to create a culture of success and winning. It had to inspire, to appeal to people from six to 66 (or above), and to play subtly on tennis themes in the detailing.
This is the seating area in front of reception, a light and airy space befitting a contemporary, innovative organisation. The space is dominated by a graphic silk screen montage of tennis images full of movement and vitality. The bright green lounge chairs and high gloss coffee tables continue the crisp, sporty feel.
Winner, BCO (British Council for Offices) Awards 2008
Joint Regional & National winner, plus Best of the Best,
Projects Under 2000 m2
The left image shows the oak refectory tables and benches in The Deuce Café with a green felt acoustic wall panel by Anne Kyro Quinn behind.
The Recreation Room, on the right with comfortable sofas, beanbags, table tennis, flatscreen tv and gaming systems is designed for children and teenagers on resident training to relax and forget about competition and their disciplined regimes. The screen is Airflake felt, the floor dark brown ribbed rubber.
The Deuce Café is reached from the upper ground floor reception by a spiral staircase, but also gives on to an outside courtyard. Low lighting creates intimacy and comfort, offset by the bright green stripe in the servery. The giant pixellated graphic of Andy Murray makes a centrepiece of dynamism and energy.
Exterior courtyard café, showing the covered walkway that runs round three sides connecting separate buildings. Iroko refectory benches match the oak ones inside, while the circular galvanised steel terrace furniture, bright red chairs and tensioned fabric umbrellas echo the architectural features of the building.
The 'Centre Court' area in front of the white lacquered AV wall (also visible from above) is a flexible space used for weekly team building and brainstorming sessions. Banquettes surround the sunken seating area for informal gatherings, but it can also be set up as a formal auditorium with conference style seating. The multiple AV screens support presentations and carry live feed of Wimbledon tournament action.