Whitworth Art Gallery (competition)

Status: 2009
Location: Manchester

Client: The University of Manchester, Whitworth Art Gallery
Value: Confidential

 

The 1908 Whitworth Art Gallery is a much loved building that in many respects works well. The east facing main entrance is seen clearly from the Oxford Road, and its elegant south elevation nestles among parkland trees. However, the later brick west facing extension that houses the exhibition galleries and lecture theatre seems to have been conceived as a functional block at the ‘back’ of the gallery, and does not engage with the park or express an appropriate gallery identity.

Stanton Williams’ design embraces the existing west facing block in order to create a sequence of beautiful gallery and educational spaces, as well as a cafe pavilion, landscape gallery and a lecture theatre that will allow the visitors to engage with the surrounding parkland.

The design proposal ‘completes’ the architectural composition, by inhabiting the recessed external spaces on the south and north elevations, linking the two new volumes by ‘drawing out’ a raised ground floor plinth and viewing gallery.

This also allows for a ‘second skin’ to be constructed in front of the existing west elevation, enhancing the environmental performance of the existing galleries. The design is underpinned by sustainable strategies, and fully integrates with the existing building.

The materials proposed for the new building will have a clear contemporary identity, creating a new welcoming entrance pavilion within the park and a spacious external terrace for eating, drinking, discussion and debate.

The proposals aim to ‘sit in harmony’ with the existing architecture and create calm, informal and uplifting spaces that will offer maximum flexibility to the gallery to develop their ideas. The scheme will also offer greater inclusive public access to the collections as well as resolving access and delivery issues that currently exist.