The Hepworth Wakefield: Yorkshire's major new art gallery

Designing The Hepworth Wakefield - David Chipperfield Architects:
As a practice, we are interested in developing building ideas that are unique to
the particular conditions of the project, both physical and organisational. The
starting point for our design for The Hepworth Wakefield was Wakefield’s existing
art gallery – a converted Victorian townhouse that became a ‘temporary’ home for
the city’s art collections in 1934, in which a series of small domestic rooms provide
exhibition space. While these conditions limit the options for showing works of
art, they nevertheless provide a natural, intimate context that suits the small-scale
nature of much of the existing collection.
The idea of a new home for the collection led us to explore the concept of clearly
defined rooms for the art, and for the composition of these rooms to determine
the external form of the building. While maintaining a consistent character, these
rooms would differ in proportion and in the location of their openings; rooflights
would provide natural light and side windows would provide views and orientation
to the outside.
The demands placed on galleries with regard to conservation of the artwork on
display can lead to a ‘black-box’ solution to gallery spaces. Although ideal in
terms of conservation, this often results in a less enjoyable visitor experience. At
The Hepworth Wakefield, collaboration with curators and specialist consultants
allowed us to look at ways of introducing daylight into the gallery spaces without
compromising conservation conditions. Through careful consideration of the
location and size of openings, it has been possible to include windows in the gallery
spaces. These windows will orient visitors and provide views of the River Calder and
the nearby medieval Chantry Chapel – one of only four surviving chapels of its kind
in the UK. In addition, ‘slot lights’ in the gallery roof will allow controlled daylight
into the gallery spaces at high level, animating the spaces without distracting
visitors from the artworks on display below.