Page "Festival of Britain" Paragraph 108

Designed by Leslie Martin, Peter Moro and Robert Matthew from the LCC's Architects ' Department and built by Holland, Hannen & Cubitts for London County Council.

The foundation stone was laid by Clement Attlee, then Prime Minister, in 1949 on the site of the former Lion Brewery, built in 1837.

Martin was 39 when he was appointed to lead the design team in late 1948.

He designed the structure as an ' egg in a box ', a term he used to describe the separation of the curved auditorium space from the surrounding building and the noise and vibration of the adjacent railway viaduct.

Sir Thomas Beecham used similar imagery, calling the building a ' giant chicken coop '.

The building was officially opened on 3 May 1951.

The original plan was that Arturo Toscanini would conduct the opening concerts, but he was unwell, and the inaugural concerts were conducted by Sir Malcolm Sargent and Sir Adrian Boult.

In April 1988 it was designated a Grade I listed building, the first post-war building to become so protected.