The Sin Centre (1962) also known as the,
“Entertainment Palace” was Michael Webb’s final student thesis that received a
failing grade at the Regent Street Polytechnic even after receiving recognition
from the MoMA as a technic icon and was later featured in Archigram 2. It was
proposed for the site on Empire Theatre in Leicester Square, London. It was an
attempt to bring together separate elements of show time audience and parked
cars with inclined plates that form a winding ramp system. Michael Webb’s Sin
Centre has been displayed at MoMA and has become a technic icon. The Entertainment Palace consists of a bowling alley, a cinema, theatre, coffee
bars and dance areas. Furthermore, there is a large department
store at the ground level and office space above. The spaces are designed to allow for
easy circulating around the facility. Cross-over ramps allow easy movement for
the cars and parking. Cables hold the entire structure together and the floors
are hung by tension cables from heavy cantilever beams supported off the top of
staircase towers.
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| An axonometric of Helical Stairway |
