Palace Theatre, Swansea

GWP Architecture led the sensitive restoration and redevelopment of the historic Palace Theatre in Swansea, a landmark building dating back to 1888. Once a vibrant cultural venue hosting stars such as Charlie Chaplin and Sir Anthony Hopkins, the Grade II listed structure had fallen into disrepair. GWP’s design approach sought to preserve its rich heritage while introducing contemporary functionality to support its future use as a dynamic workspace for Tramshed Tech.

The project involved the meticulous conservation of the theatre’s original façade, ironwork, and internal features, maintaining the building’s unique character. Modern interventions introduced flexible, multi-level office space within the existing shell, carefully designed to respect the building’s historic fabric. The original raked auditorium floor was retained and adapted into tiered workspaces, celebrating the theatre’s spatial drama.

Working closely with Swansea Council and heritage bodies, GWP led a multi-disciplinary design team to ensure the design complied with conservation best practices while meeting modern sustainability and accessibility standards. The result is a revived landmark that blends past and future — a bold example of adaptive reuse that supports Swansea’s wider regeneration. The Palace Theatre project stands as a testament to the enduring value of heritage-led architecture, reinvigorating a treasured city icon for generations to come.