Renovating the Centre

The cinema house at Rayners Lane which ZTFE bought in 2000 was built in 1936, notes architect Shahrokh Shahrokh who has been the Zoroastrian Centre project co-ordinator. It remained in such use until 1985 or so when it was converted into a disco club. From all accounts thereafter the property degenerated into a seedy joint.

For nearly 10 years the ZTFE searched for a one-and-a-half acre site to create a purpose-built structure for which they had even drawn up plans and a scale model, Shahrokh told Parsiana. They examined many sites but lack of public transport was a general stumbling block. The Rayners Lane property is conveniently close to a tube station and has a parking area for 45 to 50 cars. Of course this area was overrun by neighbors when the ZTFE first moved in, but with a measure of tact and firmness the association was able reclaim their space. Additionally, parking along the curb is permitted on weekends, he adds.

Cockwise from top left: Shahrokh; Congress registrations in the foyer; Zoroastrian handicrafts and artefacts for sale

Being one of the best Art Deco cinema houses in London, renovating the Centre needed a variety of permissions. The sound/acoustics had to be completely redone, the seats had to be totally changed, 10,000 sq feet of roofing had to be renewed. Everything had to be approved by the Harrow Council and the English Heritage authorities who had the final word. Hence, when the ZTFE played host to Prince Edward and Countess Sophie of Wessex in 2002 they had to merely spruce up the place with temporary carpeting. "You have to have patience. If you get frustrated, it doesn’t work,” smiles Shahrokh, content that his renovation of the 900 seater auditorium cum banquet hall, its stage flanked by pillars reminiscent of Persepolis, the repanelled and carpeted foyer and the quiet, understated elegance of the Setayesh Gah, tucked away on the second floor of the building, had earned encomiums from all the delegates who had attended the Congress.