Kings Place - London's Newest Music and Arts Venue

Thursday October 2, 2008

Kings Place opened on 1 October 2008 in King's Cross as part of one of the largest regeneration projects in Europe.

The ground floor has an art gallery dedicated to sculpture, cafes and restaurants, plus a waterside terrace. It's not a view you expect in King's Cross of canal barges moored in Battlebridge Basin. There are seven floors of non-public offices above, but the big story is going on below: there are two lower levels devoted to the arts.

I visited Kings Place on 2 October 2008 (the day after it opened). It was busy in the atrium as there was an opening 'festival' but I couldn't see the lower levels - where the concert halls and Kings Place Gallery are located - as the only access is by fast escalator and one very small lift (elevator). I was shocked at such a slight and ridiculous nod towards making a building accessible. I was with my daughter in her buggy so we couldn't go to the lower levels as there was a queue at the single lift. I spoke to staff about this problem and was told it had been mentioned a lot already. Surely when designing a new building it makes sense - hang on it's the law! - to make it accessible to all. (The offices uses the floors above have plenty of lifts but these are not available to the public.)

I gave up and left. So I'll never know. But I did read the incredibly long press release so I feel I've already been there.