This project introduced a unique art gallery within a former working farm, deep in the bucolic setting of rural Herefordshire. The original cluster of barns as found formed an incidental cloistered arrangement, framing a series of ad hoc external courtyard spaces intertwined between enclosed spaces within the various buildings.

 

The response to the brief included the formation of a primary gallery space within the historic, dilapidated red brick and stone barn, along with simple catering facilities, workshop spaces, secondary gallery space and garaging within a more recent Portal shed. Having amassed a collection of modern artwork ranging from intricate sculptures to vibrant abstract pieces, the creation of the gallery complex saw the client fulfil a lifelong ambition of housing his artwork in a space that allowed the public to share his enjoyment.

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The design response chose to celebrate the quirks of the former utilitarian barns whilst interspersing crisp contemporary details to accentuate the gently curated route through the buildings. Whitewashed stone walls and timber trusses offer a robust yet minimal aesthetic treatment, fading into the backdrop behind the gallery contents. A series of bespoke heating and lighting pelmets fixed to the perimeter walls serve to frame the display area and direct the viewers eye along the artwork in a sequenced manner. Combined with fully adjustable track lighting, it was possible to create a flexible, adaptive space suited to hosting a variety of seasonally changeable displays and guest exhibitions.

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Alongside this, Oliver worked up proposals for the distinctive monocoque welded steel feature staircase to link the lower upper and floors of the main gallery space, connected above to a glazed walkway and frameless glass opening providing punched views through the old rubble stone wall to a rustic rear courtyard gallery space and views to the landscape beyond.

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The adjacent steel framed portal shed was repurposed to house further gallery space and ancillary functions. A distinctive mix of naturally oiled vertical Larch boarding was combined with hit-and-miss battens used to screen Danpathern K7 translucent walls to bring daylight into the spaces by day, and emit a warm outward glow by night. The surrounding fields have been transformed into an immersive sculpture trail, with the rolling Herefordshire countryside as the backdrop.

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Canwood Gallery is open throughout the year for select periods, playing host to a range of changeable collections and guest exhibitions, including collaborative displays with students from the Hereford College of Arts, and artists of national and international renown.

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Designed & Completed whilst Project Architect at R.R.A. alongside Garry Thomas, now Thomas Studio Ltd.