The show begins long before the curtain rises at Lichfield Garrick Theatre, and the theatre’s public spaces play a crucial role in shaping the audience’s experience. So, when architectural practice Design Unlimited was tasked with redesigning the venue’s busy box office and bar area, two of the venue’s most high-traffic spaces, the team partnered with Medlock FRB and James Latham, one of the UK’s leading independent distributors of timber, panels and decorative panels. Together, they chose HIMACS, an advanced solid surface known for its design flexibility and durability, to bring their vision to life.
The Garrick’s bold brand colours, including vibrant yellows, blues, greens, and pinks, meant any new addition to the space needed to hold its own, but not compete. To balance the scheme, Designs Unlimited opted for a calm, neutral backdrop for the new box office. At the heart of this vision was a sculptural reception desk specified to be understated yet impactful. For this, Designs Unlimited was set on using HIMACS in Arctic White. Sourced through James Latham and crafted in collaboration with Medlock FRB the solid surface material was key to realising their concept.
As Jo Heyse-Moore, lead interior designer on the project explained: “The box office is the first stop for most visitors, so we wanted it to be instantly recognisable, which is why we used plain tones that contrast with the expressive colours that feature elsewhere. The ability to cut, bend, twist, and shape the HIMACS sheets meant that we could be far more playful with the furniture’s structure, giving it its own identity. It immediately stands out as a prominent feature, performing an artistic purpose as well as a functional one, much like material itself.”
A great solo travel tip spotted this week on Hotel Designs.
