Caruso St John's new contemporary art gallery in Nottingham opens to the public this weekend. The exhibition programme opens with a major David Hockney retrospective, '1960 - 1968: A Marriage of Styles' and an exhibition of the collages of Frances Stark, 'But what of Frances Stark, standing by itself, a naked name, bare as a ghost to whom one would like to lend a sheet?'. Both exhibitions run until the 10th January 2010.


photograph : Helene Binet

Centre for Contemporary Arts Nottingham - CCAN

Stunning lace designs that helped establish a world famous industry in the heart of Nottingham have been set in concrete as part of an iconic, multi-million pound arts centre.



The project was a major challenge for Trent Concrete, which used its wealth of precast experience to reproduce a unique lace pattern in the reconstructed stone cladding being manufactured for the Centre for Contemporary Arts Nottingham (CCAN).

The design is based on a sample of Victorian lace found in a time capsule, unearthed when a new supermarket was being built in the city.

This pattern was initially given to design specialists at Derby University, who used lasers to replicate the exact pattern on a piece of timber. It was then sent to Germany, where leading rubber mould supplier Reckli was able to transfer the design onto a durable rubber mat.

The finished template is now being placed into concrete-ready moulds, so the intricate pattern can be exactly reproduced on the cladding Trent Concrete is making for the £13m arts centre. David Walker, Managing Director of Trent Concrete, said: “We are thrilled to be able to use our precast concrete expertise to create such a unique and beautiful finish for what promises to be a landmark building for Nottingham. “Each contract we undertake is bespoke in its detail. While we have used rubber mat templates in our moulds before, such as at the Trafford Centre in Manchester, but this is easily the most intricate job we have ever undertaken.”

In total, 1,100 square metres of green scalloped wall panels will be made by Trent for the arts centre – ranging from 4-11m in height. The heaviest of the 93 individual units weighs in at 11.5 tonnes. Trent have had to develop innovative methods of handling, storing, transporting and erecting the massive panels that would ensure that the stunning finish is protected.

Purpose-built metal frames are being used to carefully turn the finished panels onto their edges, for easier and safer transport. Once delivered on site, a special ‘shoe’ (made from a steel frame) is used to carefully turn them back 90 degrees before being fixed to the building.

Under its nearly £500,000 contract with Caruso St John Architects, Trent is also providing a 200 square metre black polished concrete plinth of varying heights to surround the bottom of the bottom of the building. This will guarantee an impressive finish to the project.

CCAN has received substantial support from Arts Council England and the development is being led by Nottingham City Council, in partnership with Nottingham Trent University and the University of Nottingham – who will set up a charity to operate the site.

The centre, featuring 1,300 square metres of gallery space, education rooms and a café and bar, is a major opportunity for the city to develop and enhance its cultural and creative industries. It is due to open in the autumn of 2008.

Centre for Contemporary Arts Nottingham images / information received 031207