George, Prince of Wales, first rented a ‘respectable farmhouse’ in Brighton in 1796. A year later the farmhouse was transformed by architect Henry Holland. The neo-classical structure was known as the Marine Pavilion which featured a central dome rotunda flanked north and south by two wings. Soon after, George IV began acquiring plots of land to create the Royal Pavilion Estate. Architect William Porden was commissioned to create the magnificent new Stables and Riding House which were constructed from 1803-1808. In 1850, the Estate was purchased by the Town of Brighton. The Dome was reconstructed as a concert hall in 1867. In 1873, the Museum, Art Gallery and Library were built, which were the first purpose built public museums and galleries in the country. From 1934-1937, the Dome and Corn Exchange were remodelled by Robert Atkinson in the Art Deco style. A new entrance to the Corn Exchange was constructed on Church Street which featured a canopied doorway.
The Brighton Dome sits on the corner of the world-famous Royal Pavilion Estate. The Brighton Dom is often overlooked with its underwhelming low-level street presence, something the Dome wanted to improve.
In 2013 the Brighton Dome underwent a rebrand by Johnson Banks. As part of the design brief, the Dome required a new wayfinding design that better suited the building and enhanced the external street presence.
We were appointed to assist with developing the new wayfinding scheme for the front and back of the house and assist Johnson Banks with design specification requirements for a listed building environment, both internally and externally.
The exterior facade featured new branding in the form of powder-coated aluminium lettering, mounted on studs, and projecting banners New Road, and Church Street.
Following the successful rebrand and new wayfinding and design scheme, we were invited back by the Brighton Dome to work in collaboration with compiling a Wayfinding Strategy & Design for the whole Royal Pavilion Estate, to win a grant for Heritage Lottery Fund (a successful pitch).
Branding & Graphic Design — © Johnson Banks
Work under the direction at — © Whybrow Pedrola
Photography — © Philip Sayer