Vans to open creative space in London's Waterloo
Due to open on 9 August, the 3,000 square metre 'House of Vans: London' will be housed under Waterloo Station in the Old Vic Tunnels. It will follow the opening of a similar concept by Vans in New York’s Brooklyn.
The permanent venue will include free exhibition space for both emerging and established artists, some of whom will hold workshops for the local community.
In addition, there will be a gig space large enough to hold 850 people, a skate park with the facility for pool-style skateboarding, as well as a cafe, bars and cinema space.
Jeremy de Maillard, Vans vice president of marketing, said: “The House of Vans London is the physical manifestation of the cultures and creativity at the heart of the Vans brand. London is the perfect city to expand this original concept first established in Brooklyn and it’s an honour to take over this iconic venue from the Old Vic. We’re looking forward to building on this legacy, working closely with the local communities and key stakeholders involved in the project.”
House of Vans London will be open five days a week and will host a variety of events and workshops. The project is affiliated with three charity partners: Old Vic New Voices, Railway Children and Action for Children.