Crystal Palace

The challenge of designing such a wonderful master-plan within a listed landscape, one that includes listed structures and buildings, benefited enormously from a most constructive association with English Heritage. Mark Lloyd, Senior Development Manager, London Development Agency

English Heritage was invaluable in developing a meaningful master plan, one that addressed all the historic elements in the park, both listed and unlisted. Mischa Ickstadt, Senior Landscape Architect, Latz + Partner

The 1950s National Sports Centre is a grade II* listed structure set within Sir Joseph Paxton’s Crystal Palace Park. Designed by London County Council architect’s department, the National Sports Centre, with its enormous glass and concrete curtain wall, is an impressive emblem of early Brutalism and was the first multi-purpose sports centre in the UK. For a long time, the future of the entire site hung in the balance. With its facilities outdated, demolition rather than refurbishment was being considered, in spite of the London 2012 Olympic bid.

English Heritage and the London Development Agency worked together to propose an alternative vision for the National Sports Centre; the 50-metre swimming pool, which no longer meets Olympic standards, could be decked over to provide an all-weather sports pitch, transforming the interior of the building into a multi-purpose hall for sports and other events.

Finding a secure future for this building was part of the London Development Agency and Latz + Partner’s wider plan for the regeneration of the whole of the park. The dramatic changes proposed for the National Sports Centre building derive from English Heritage’s understanding of where its heritage values lie. As a result, the future of one of London’s landmark post-war buildings has been guaranteed and can be used and enjoyed by a wider audience.