INSPIRED by controversy over the future of the Assembly Rooms, a Derby architect has sketched a novel solution to improve the building without bulldozing it.
Ian Goodwin, of Pick Everard, believes that knocking down the venue would be ruinously expensive, time-consuming and disruptive.
Keen to defend the building following the catastrophic fire on the roof of the car park, he has come up with a scheme to help give the building a new lease of life.
It involves adding a new gallery overlooking the Market Place, making the exterior more attractive and increasing space inside.
Mr Goodwin said: "The city council cannot afford to demolish and replace the building and it would tear the heart and soul out of the Cathedral Quarter.
"Derby City Council has recently spent a considerable amount of money refurbishing it and it would be a pity to waste all that time and effort."
Mr Goodwin would like to introduce a second glazed gallery level above the existing space facing the Market Place.
He said: "It could be stepped back to allow theatre goers to step outside and enjoy south facing views over the Market Place.
"Potentially, it would create more revenue, generating public space and hopefully reduce those enormous queues during the interval.
"It's a good building and the public areas are well lit and the internal courtyard works well."
Before qualifying as an architect, Mr Goodwin worked for George Grey and Partners and contributed to its submission to the Assembly Rooms design competition.
Although from a visual point of view, the Assembly Rooms divides opinion as to its merits, the building is well regarded in architectural circles.
The Royal Institute of British Architects included the Assembly Rooms in a book entitled Fifty Buildings 50 Years – Modern Architecture in the East Midlands.
