Somerset Road Covered Courts: All England Lawn Tennis Club

by Hopkins Architects

Client for All England Lawn Tennis Club (AELTC)

Award RIBA London Award 2024

Somerset Road Covered Courts stand as a testament to the delicate balance between functionality, sustainability, and architectural excellence within the esteemed Wimbledon Tennis Club campus.

Part of a comprehensive masterplan for the All England Lawn Tennis Club, this indoor tennis facility is designed not only to harmonise with the prestigious outdoor courts, but also to significantly enhance the efficiency of the overall campus for the client.

It embodies a dual purpose: serving as players’ and VIPs’ secure front door during the Wimbledon Championships, while seamlessly transitioning into a club facility with significantly reduced occupancy demands for the rest of the year. The indoor court area is particularly impressive, covered by a column free timber roof with a graceful, undulating form. This roof’s curve, which reduces the volume without impacting functionality, is both a nod to the design of 1980s tennis rackets and echoes the trajectory of a lob shot.

Read the full citation from the RIBA Awards Jury on RIBA Journal.

Contractor Willmott Dixon

Landscape Architect Applied Landscape Design

Structural Engineer Cundall

MEP Engineer ME Engineers

Cost Consultant Turner & Townsend

Planning Consultant Rolfe Judd

Principal Designer CDM Services

Acoustic Consultant Vanguardia

BREEAM Consultant Cundall

Gross internal area in m² 18,445