Royal Opera House, a major performing arts venue in Covent Garden. This is actually exterior of the Paul Hamlyn Hall, a large iron and glass structure adjacent to, and with direct access to, the main opera house building. The hall now acts as the atrium and main public area of the opera house, with a champagne bar, restaurant and other hospitality services, and also providing access to the main auditorium at all levels. It was originally built by the Opera House to house a flower market (also selling fruits and vegetables), hence its previous name, Floral Hall. A fire broke out in the building in 1956, after which it sat derelict. It was acquired by the Opera House in 1977 and used as storage space. (previous | next | back to album | 2020:02:12 14:21:48 | 94% of an album)