BBC Broadcasting House, Leeds, No. 1 studio, c1934 - architect John C Procter
An interesting interior view of the BBC's first home in Leeds and a building they themselves vacated in the early years of the 20th Century after which is was remodelled by architects Fielden Clegg. The actual building, now known as Old Broadcasting House, was origianlly a Friends Meeting House (for the Quakers) and had been constructed in 1866-68 and designed by Edward Birchall. The BBC must have acquired it as they strengthened their regional presence in the 1920s and '30s as this image dates from c1933/4 and shows the work undertaken by the Leeds based architect John C Proctor.
It is suitably 'modernist' as was the case in London's Broadcasting House of 1930/32 and has obviously been designed, understandably, with acoustics in mind. Otherwise, as suited radio broadcasting at the time, it has elements of a well heeled drawing room of the period with very fine chairs and matching furniture to allow broadcasters and artists to sit, rest and read! No doubt this interior was, in turn, much modified in BBC days especially with the introduction of TV broadcasting but it is a glimpse into radio history when the medium was 'new' and 'important' as seen it its design and architecture.
BBC Broadcasting House, Leeds, No. 1 studio, c1934 - architect John C Procter
An interesting interior view of the BBC's first home in Leeds and a building they themselves vacated in the early years of the 20th Century after which is was remodelled by architects Fielden Clegg. The actual building, now known as Old Broadcasting House, was origianlly a Friends Meeting House (for the Quakers) and had been constructed in 1866-68 and designed by Edward Birchall. The BBC must have acquired it as they strengthened their regional presence in the 1920s and '30s as this image dates from c1933/4 and shows the work undertaken by the Leeds based architect John C Proctor.
It is suitably 'modernist' as was the case in London's Broadcasting House of 1930/32 and has obviously been designed, understandably, with acoustics in mind. Otherwise, as suited radio broadcasting at the time, it has elements of a well heeled drawing room of the period with very fine chairs and matching furniture to allow broadcasters and artists to sit, rest and read! No doubt this interior was, in turn, much modified in BBC days especially with the introduction of TV broadcasting but it is a glimpse into radio history when the medium was 'new' and 'important' as seen it its design and architecture.