Mance making big waves at Ocean venue

Ocean, a £23m diverse music venue in a converted Methodist Hall in London’s East End, opens in March featuring interiors, graphics and signage by Peter Mance Design and Architecture.

The 2700-capacity venue will showcase a variety of musical acts, including rap, reggae, classical, salsa and soca among others. It incorporates three separate performance spaces, several bars and Aqua, a street-level café bar.

The interiors look is based on strong colour that aims to help people navigate their way around the space, says consultancy director Peter Mance. Equal attention has been paid to backstage facilities, such as dressing rooms, and areas visible to the public, he adds, reflecting the value Ocean places on its performers.

“We needed to create a space that could comfortably house the contrasting events on show at Ocean,” adds Mance. “The performance areas are designed to respond quickly to each intended performance.”

The Central Methodist Hall in Hackney has been converted into the new venue by multidisciplinary design group Burell Foley Fischer. Art installations, such as a glass marble wall, have been co-ordinated by Commissions East, and the Ocean logo was created by The Kitchen.