This fascinating project for the Royal Pavilion Estate in Brighton seeks to reawaken and reunite the historic estate created by George IV in the early nineteenth century.

John Nash’s Royal Pavilion and William Porden’s magnificent stables rotunda and riding house (now the Brighton Dome and Corn Exchange Theatre) epitomise the eccentric flamboyance which has become symbolic of both George IV and Brighton. The project aims to re-establish the Royal Pavilion Estate as the foremost cultural destination in Brighton and the South-East, and equip it for a sustainable future.

The project is centred on realising the potential of Nash’s Picturesque garden as the heart of the Estate as the means to mediate, connect and interpret the complex set of relationships between the historic buildings and contemporary operations. 

The garden offers exciting opportunities for creative new uses and different patterns of occupation in support of the arts and performance venues on the site. The project also encompasses estate-wide strategies for visitor welcome, events, learning, catering and staff accommodation, and works to improve facilities for the care and conservation of the listed buildings and garden.

Following a competitive process, FCBStudios was appointed by Brighton & Hove City Council as architects, heritage consultants and design team leaders to undertaken a Design Feasibility Study for the Royal Pavilion Estate. We are now working with the joint client team of the Royal Pavilion Museum and Brighton Dome & Brighton Festival Ltd towards the development of a Masterplan and phase one work has started on site to refurbish Brighton’s Grade 1 listed Corn Exchange and Grade 2 listed Studio Theatre.