Staircases and Foyer

North Staircase, South Staircase, Foyer, bars, toilets shop and lift

An Icon for Everyone – Phase 1

As well as the auditorium, this Phase will include the restoration of the iconic Mendelsohn staircase windows both north and south, as well as a redesign of the main foyer.

The South Staircase is the one of the most recognised – and glamorous – features of the Pavilion. It’s original anodized aluminium handrails will remain as will the long pendulous steel and chrome lamp, modelled on Mendelsohn’s design for the German metalworkers Union in Berlin. The encasing windows frames will be refurbished and re-glazed and the terrazzo repaired.

The North Staircase is cantilevered – a new feat of engineering in 1935 whereby there appears to be nothing holding it up. The encasing windows frames will be refurbished and re-glazed, the terrazzo repaired. The flagpole will also be refurbished to fly flags proudly again.

The lift will move to beside the North staircase and will continue to serve all three floors, creating a clear circulation route through the building. This allows the auditorium stairs and foyer to return to its original design as a wide entrance with glazed doors. There will continue to be ramps for wheelchair-users.

We know that queuing at the bar is frustrating for our audiences. The current shop / Box Office space will be become a permanent bar, with seating in the foyer, whilst the Box Office and shop will move to where the entrance to the Gallery is now.

We also know that we need more toilets. We will increase the number of female toilets to 11 on the ground floor with a two door system to help queuing at peak times.

1935 architects: Erich Mendelsohn and Serge Chermayeff

2026 architects: Haworth Tompkins

There are many ways you can support this project, please find out more here. Support the refurbishment of our auditorium and foyers and with your donation, celebrate a memory, honour a loved one, or add your name to an engraved plaque on one of our soon-to-be-installed seats as part of Your Seat in History, find out more here.