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Ben Kelly Architect : Architecture
BKD Design Studio Information – Contemporary Architectural Practice London, England, UK
post updated 3 May 2022 ; 15 May 2021 ; 18 Mar 2020
Ben Kelly Design News
Gymbox Westfield, Westfield Shopping Centre, Stratford, East London, England, UK
Date built: 2016
Aiming to create a series of urban gyms sited in unusual (and hard to let) spaces, the Gymbox brand breaks the mould of aspirational, white-box fitness clubs by offering a more stimulating, club-inspired environment.
This is the second Gymbox designed by BKD located at one of London’s popular Westfield shopping centres – this time in Stratford in East London.
Client: Gymbox
source: http://benkellydesign.com/gymbox-westfield/
25 Jun 2013
BIMM Manchester Music College, Manchester, north west England, UK
Date built: 2013
photo from architect
BIMM Manchester Music College
BIMM Manchester, the newest college to open in the award-winning contemporary music education group BIMM, has commissioned the celebrated interior design practice Ben Kelly Design (BKD) to create a unique and inspiring destination for aspiring music industry professionals studying full time accredited courses at Diploma and Degree level.
Gymbox – health club, 71 Lombard Street, West End, London, UK
Date built: 2007-08
This project was located within a redeveloped old Lumiere cinema building.
Client: Richard Hilton
The Lumiere cinema was designed by British architect Hugh Casson, completed in 1967 in basement of Richard Seifert-designed office block.
Gymbox Bank is the third space designed by BKD and is located within the vaults of the former Lloyds Bank HQ building. Whilst maintaining the core approach of the previous clubs, this project provided an opportunity to develop the concept even further and build on Gymbox’s strong visual identity.
Ben Kelly – some key BKD projects
Bar Ten, Mitchell Lane, off Buchanan Street, central Glasgow, Scotland
Date built: 1991
photograph © Adrian Welch
Bar Ten –
Ben Kelly Design.
Controversy re proposals at Bar Ten in 2007, but little seems to be afoot, indeed the owners have contacted Ben Kelly to discuss and ask for information:
Hacienda nightclub – fac 51, central Manchester, northwest England, UK
Date built: 1982
photo © Adrian Welch
Hacienda nightclub by Ben Kelly interiors : Hacienda nightclub Manchester
Ben was recommended for this interesting project by Factory graphic designer Peter Saville.
The building upstairs consisted of a stage, dance area, bar, cloakroom, cafeteria area and balcony with a DJ booth. Downstairs was a cocktail bar called The Gay Traitor, which referred to Anthony Blunt, a British art historian who spied for the Soviet Union.
The Hacienda Nightclub Manchester bollards on display:
photo : a_marga, CC BY-SA 2.0 https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/2.0, via Wikimedia Commons
The two other bars, The Kim Philby and Hicks, were named after Blunt’s fellow spies. From 1995 onwards, the lower cellar areas of the venue were converted to create the 5th Man, a smaller music venue.
Halfords: Sheffield & Swansea
Date built: 1999
Science Museum basement, West End, London
Date built: 1995
Borough Hotel, Edinburgh, Scotland
Date built: –
photograph from architects
Borough Hotel – no longer open
More BKD architecture online soon
Location: 10 Stoney Street, London SE1 9AD, England, UK
BKD Design Practice Information
BKD are a London-based interior design firm
Ben Kelly in my view made his name with the Hac and, to a lesser extent, with Dry201. Their designs were fresh, vibrant, symbolising the mood of the times and creating part of the Madchester vibe. Things went a bit quiet after that in terms of profile until The Basement was unveiled at the National Museum of Science and Industry, London. The design ethos is often of pop art meets street furniture.
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Website: benkellydesign.com