Snape Maltings Concert Hall

Snape Maltings Concert Hall

In 1967 Benjamin Britten and others instigated the conversion of the great Malt House at Snape to make a Concert Hall to house the performances of the annual Aldeburgh Festival. The hall, with its brilliant acoustics, its delicate and innovative roof structure, its simple, noble interior and of course its association with Britten has become a world famous performance venue.

  • Snape Maltings Concert Hall 1
  • Snape Maltings Concert Hall 2
  • Snape Maltings Concert Hall 1
  • Snape Maltings Concert Hall 2

Originally the smaller buildings attached to the Malt House seemed more than adequate for accommodating front and back of house uses. Over thirty years the demands on these spaces have become greater and greater: the demands of the movements of large numbers of performers, audience expectations of refreshment facilities, access for people with disabilities, for modern recording technology, fire safety requirements, wc provision, arts sponsorship and so on.

  • Snape Maltings Concert Hall 1
  • Snape Maltings Concert Hall 2
  • Snape Maltings Concert Hall 3

At the same time these buildings, built as impermanent agro-industrial structures have steadily deteriorated. We have designed alterations and extensions to the Maltings to improve facilities without compromising the qualities that have helped give it such a special space in musical culture world-wide. Construction was completed for the 1999 Aldeburgh Festival.

  • Snape Maltings Concert Hall 1
  • Snape Maltings Concert Hall 2
  • Snape Maltings Concert Hall 1
  • Snape Maltings Concert Hall 2

Awards

  • Architecture Today; Test of Time Award - Snape Maltings: Winner
  • RIBA Award - Merchants' Academy: Winner
  • Civic Trust Award - Prior Weston School Temporary Accommodation: Commendation
Client
  • Aldeburgh Productions
Status
Complete
Size m2
6,002
Completion Date
1999
Structural Engineer
  • Price & Myers LLP
M&E Engineer
  • Max Fordham LLP