We were one of eight practices shortlisted for the Southbank Centre design competition and interview. The competition was for the revitalisation of the Festival Wing of the Southbank Centre; the Hayward Gallery, the Queen Elizabeth Hall (QEH) and Purcell Room. Our proposals focus on making a series of diverse, non-traditional venues for a varied arts programme and suggesting a new rehearsal space which was not fully defined at the time. In addition we embedded the project within the Southbank complex and adjoining areas; extending existing routes through the foyers, creating new routes around and over the buildings. We drew on our experience in performance spaces and foyers, as well as retail, which formed a significant proportion of the brief, and our experience of live sites and phasing to mitigate disruption to the life of the Southbank.