About the project
This stunning Barn Conversion Canwood Gallery designed by architect Garry Thomas is located in some of the UK’s best rural countryside. The site is an old farmstead in the village of Checkley located in an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty.
The client, a retired farmer, has collected together a contemporary art collection over many decades and chose to redevelop some of the barns on the farm to house his art collection, and provide a facility that would enable public access to enjoy the art, whilst at the same time receive artists in residence to display their work on an on-going basis.
Garry was appointed to convert a series of existing agricultural buildings to form an art gallery and hospitality venue, to provide accommodation to host art-gatherings and a private art collection for the client.
The project involved careful consideration of details, to ensure a minimal backdrop for the works of art that are to be permanently housed on the walls of the building.
Given the constraints of an existing building the end result is a minimal aesthetic to ensure the buildings as the backdrop do not disturb the enjoyment of art and land sculpture.
An existing steel portal shed has been re-clad in vertical Larch boarding, with all detailing reduced to the minimum to remove clutter.
An existing stone and timber framed barn has been converted to become the art gallery, with a new under floor heated space, and contemporary steel staircase rising between floors, to provide new circulation within the historic interior.
Gallery standard lighting has been specified and installed, so that lighting can be controlled, to ensure art pieces are lit well, and during events mood lighting can be tempered to provide atmosphere within the space. Here’s a short video about Canwood Gallery and the work of Architect Garry Thomas.
Date: Current
Client: Canwood Gallery
Contract: Traditional JCT Minor Works
Contractor: MRG Building Services
Ecology: Tyler Grange
Steelwork: Thomas Forge
Project carried on while working at RRA
