The Hepworth, Wakefield, UK
2003-10
David Chipperfield Architects


Image credit: Copyright David Chipperfield Architects and Steve Whitton

Groundbreaking ceremony for David Chipperfield Architects' The Hepworth Wakefield - 7 Dec 2007

Construction of David Chipperfield Architects' The Hepworth Wakefield will start on Monday 19 November. Completion of the 5,050 m2 gallery is scheduled for 2009, with public opening in early 2010.

Laing O'Rourke Northern Ltd will act as main contractor for the two year construction programme.

The gallery will play a vital role in the redevelopment of the Wakefield Waterfront, on a prominent site at the head of the River Calder. The two-storey building is formed from a conglomeration of differently sized trapezoidal shaped blocks, responding to the scale and rooflines of the surrounding small scale industrial buildings. With water on two sides and visibility from all directions, the site - and therefore the building - has no front or back elevation.

The project will provide the city with a vibrant centre for the community that responds to the collective forces of the artists represented within the gallery, most notably the gift of thirty plaster sculptures by Barbara Hepworth, donated by the Hepworth Estate.

Wakefield Council's Cabinet Member for Culture, Tourism and Sport Cllr Clive Hudson said: "We are very excited that work on The Hepworth Wakefield will be starting in November. The gallery will open up access to Wakefield's internationally recognised collections and provide new opportunities for local communities, families, schools and visitors to get involved. "This is a fantastic opportunity for Wakefield - we are looking forward to opening The Hepworth Wakefield to the public as part of our 2010 Festival of Culture celebrations."



The Hepworth, Wakefield Architect : David Chipperfield Architects

The Hepworth, Wakefield is the relocation and expansion of the city's existing art gallery to the conservation area at the headland of the River Calder. The gallery's existing collection contains major British and European artists and The Hepworth, Wakefield will additionally house a unique collection of thirty original plasters by the locally born artist Barbara Hepworth.

The gallery building is formed from a conglomeration of differently sized trapezoidal shaped blocks, responding to the scale and rooflines of the surrounding small scale industrial buildings.

With water on two sides and visibility from all directions, the site - and therefore the building - has no front or back elevation.

The building blocks form the rooms of the building. The galleries on the upper floor are sized according to the scale of the works with smaller rooms for earlier works and larger rooms for contemporary works. At the lower level the rooms contain the other gallery functions - a performance space, educational workshops, public facilities and the administration and back of house areas.



English Buildings

Leeds Architecture

For more information on The Hepworth Wakefield please visit www.hepworthwakefield.com which features the 'HEPCAM' - a live webcam link to the construction site.

World Architecture : e-architect - a guide to key buildings across the globe

Comments or suggestions / photos for the The Hepworth Wakefield page welcome:
info@e-architect.co.uk

The Hepworth Wakefield - page : adrian welch / isabelle lomholt