Kings Cross Gasholder 8
A creative and energising re-use of Gasholder No8 at King's Cross.
Kings Cross Gasholder 8
London,
England
2009
Clients
King’s Cross Central Limited Partnership,
Argent KCCLP
In this proposal the gasholder at Kings Cross becomes a dynamic performance space — a modern-day Globe and theatre of everyday life. It adapts to play, learning, and events, reflecting the energy of King’s Cross.
A continuous brick surface drapes the site, embedding community buildings. A central, a sunken hall doubles as an outdoor stage, with seating set into the sloped groundscape. The gasholder frame is reused as a lighting rig, supporting events and installations.
Tidal waters flood and drain in the landscape, revealing and hiding paths, echoing the movement of the original gas bell. Sculptures around the perimeter, like Roman Herms, mark the site’s boundary.
Sockets in the brick allow seating, shades, and stalls to be added as needed. Reused sections of the gas bell form the roofs of the community centre and café, anchoring the new in the site’s industrial past.
