Aside from its numerous and varied activities, the new Laban is first and foremost a public building, a kind of citadel with streets, avenues, steps, courtyards. By day, the regular activities of Laban – training, rehearsals, research and workshops – will be semi-visible through the walls from the outside. By night, Laban will act as a coloured lantern or beacon, radiating light out onto the surrounding area and along Deptford Creek.
The curved facades are clad in a special semi-translucent polycarbonate which changes colour as the sunlight changes – from yellow to turquoise to magenta, colours chosen by the artist Michael Craig-Martin who worked in close collaboration with the Swiss architects.
Great care has been taken to respect existing features in the area including nearby St. Paul’s, Deptford, one of the finest remaining Baroque churches in the country. Likewise, the impact of the building on the local flora and fauna of the Creek has been carefully considered. The roof, for example, incorporates special habitats for the Redstart, a rare bird that nests in former bombsites.
The first chance for the public to visit the building will be 8 February whilst the first performance is planned for 17 February.
Laban
Creekside, Deptford, London SE8
T +44-020-86918600
http://www.laban.org
