Dulwich Picture Gallery
In July 2022 we were shortlisted to submit a competition proposal to deliver new facilities for the unique context of Dulwich Picture Gallery, the world’s first purpose-built public art gallery. The proposals are to form part of the Grade II* Listed Gallery’s long-term strategy to establish a more self-sufficient business model through with the ambition to be the “go-to arts and cultural destination in Southeast London”.
Our approach centres around a new Art Play building to provide flexible, youth-focussed spaces for children to discover and experience art. A covered cloister provides external sheltered learning spaces and connect the building to an existing Grade II Listed Cottage, which is repurposed, and its fabric upgraded to alleviate pressure on the existing café. Support infrastructure is housed within strategic massing and follies in less conspicuous areas. Material construction is made visible in the rammed earth internal walls, used as a didactic tool for learning.
The landscape proposals distil the essence of Soane’s altogether wilder ambition for the Gallery’s setting, foregrounding an experience of ‘discovery’ within a characterful, biodiverse landscape garden. High level moves to redefine the approach to the Gallery and rerouting the Green Chain Link through the now diverse gardens enables a redefinition of the gardens, to incorporate ‘the Village Green’ - an act of generosity to the public realm in Dulwich and highlights the Gallery’s potential civic role, ‘the Secret Garden’, ‘the Learning Landscape’, and ‘the Meadow & Art Forest’ which integrates a landscape intervention by landscape architect Kim Wilkie.
Crucial to success of the scheme are the proposals to engage with both current and future audiences to deliver long-lasting social value to surrounding communities, and its strategically phased approach to enable the gallery to deliver this ambitious plan.
Interior material palette featuring warm and natural materials.
