About the project

Somerset Road Covered Courts is a new indoor tennis centre and part of a wider masterplan for the All England Lawn Tennis Club’s long-term development contributing to a more coherent campus with better connectivity, security and parking amenity.

The building nestles into the contours of the landscaped site, lessening its impact on neighbouring properties and adhering to the Club’s central ethos of ‘tennis in an English Garden’. The project provides six new indoor courts, six new external clay courts, a Members’ bar and changing areas. Corridor and door widths are generous to enhance accessibility and all courts either have level access from the main entrance or are accessible by lift.

An undulating timber roof, inspired by the design of wooden rackets popular in the 70s and 80s, creates a sculptural external profile and soars above the playing area inside to create a grander experience. A double curvature achieves structural strength and elegance and allows for generous rooflights located between the pairs of primary beams.