Preview: matter
Pentagram has named and created the identity for matter, a new multi-million pound London music venue from the team behind the renowned club fabric.
A cross-disciplinary team led by architect William Russell and graphic designer Angus Hyland is also developing the venue’s interior architecture, which will consist of a three-storey, 2,600 person capacity venue underneath the domed roof of The O2 arena in North Greenwich.
Designed to operate primarily as a live music venue, matter will be kitted out with over 200 digitally mapped speakers, custom-built lighting and projection systems, as well as a state-of-the-art BodyKinetic active dance floor system. Russell’s design features a dramatic bridge spanning the space above the main arena, created so that despite the size of the venue, no one in the main auditorium will be further than 15 metres from the stage.
The name and visual identity of the venue compliment the stark brutalism of the interior architecture. The logo combines the matter signature with a flexible “frame” based around the harmonious proportions of the golden section.
matter is the latest collaboration between Russell and Hyland, whose previous work together includes Cass Art brand and the Global Cities exhibition for the Turbine Hall at Tate Modern last summer.