Our loos? They’re inspired by Milan’s Villa Necchi! The reborn planks-and-plasterboard theatre trouncing its flashy neighbours

Since the 2012 Olympics, Hackney Wick's skyline has been dominated by cranes as developers profit from rising land values around the Olympic park. Amid this regeneration, one crane stands still, encased in polycarbonate and glowing by night as part of the Yard theatre. This striking building exemplifies how economical ingenuity can create cultural value in an area increasingly defined by luxury loft-living concepts.

From printworks to cultural hub

Founded in 2011 in a former printworks, the Yard theatre has evolved from a makeshift space using butcher's curtains and pink plasterboard to a permanent £4m building. Founder Jay Miller initially secured a cheap lease by offering to eliminate the building owner's security costs. The original space lasted over a decade, staging shows that transferred to the National Theatre and won an Olivier award.

Sustainable design with recycled materials

The new theatre was funded with £3m from the London Legacy Development Corporation's Community Infrastructure Levy, essentially paid for by surrounding apartment blocks. Architect Takero Shimazaki created a tour de force of sustainable design, using K-Briks made from 95% construction waste that saved 3.5 tonnes of CO2 emissions. The building's corrugated fibre-cement cladding and multicolored brickwork reference the area's industrial past.

Inspired by Palladian churches, the design brings a sense of permanence to the temporary space. The theatre's name is spelled out in the brickwork, recalling faded factory signs, while the interior features burgundy banquettes, a glossy blue bar, and gold-painted columns. Even the loos add sparkle, inspired by Milan's Villa Necchi Campiglio with glossy black tiles and brass fittings.

A community-focused alternative to Olympic luxury

The 250-capacity theatre retains the raw quality of the original space with a concrete stage and no wings, while doubling seating capacity. Hidden radiators beneath seats provide warmth while aiding ventilation. The project contrasts sharply with East Bank's £1.1bn cultural quarter in Stratford, which houses V&A, Sadler's Wells, and BBC studios but feels less authentic despite big budgets.

The Yard demonstrates how a young, agile team with limited resources can create architecture that feels truly connected to its place. While surrounding developments prioritize luxury living, the theatre remains graffiti-free and community-focused, with a youth hub being developed in adjacent warehouse offices by artist Jeremy Deller and local schoolchildren.