Coventry's Sculpture Garden

The design concerns not just the reuse of an existing 1960s shop front, but also the reuse of structure and materials. The materiality is deeply rooted in the memory of the pre-existing building. Terrazzo formed from the reclaimed rubble from the site and other buildings earmarked for demolition. It acts as a trace of the building that came before. The art is not just happening on the walls of the exhibition space but is expanded to the fabric of the building. The revealing of the original structure reflects the building as it was.

The steel painted blue, brick columns revealed, timber joists exposed, and lime plaster left bare invite the mind to rebuild the space. The programme consists of public and artist-only spaces. There are a variety of shared workspaces for artists. The concourse acts as a transit point, allowing access to the shop fronts, artist assembly, and the gallery. The artist assembly acts as a hub for the studios, it provides circulation as well as a communal space for large works. It becomes a transitional space, moving from the public concourse to the working yard.

In considering artist occupation and their working method, the design hosts a variety of studio typologies. Sculpture studios have direct access to the yard and loading bay. The majority of the studios have flexible walls, allowing the studios to transform into larger or smaller spaces. Smaller private studios are only accessible from the roof terrace. The sculpture garden invites the public to walk between the two forms – medieval and refurbished – and look up between the two facades. The placement of the sculpture garden between these two buildings enables two different forms of architecture to become connected. It relates the art to the landscape of Coventry.

A Douglas fir timber extension opens the west façade, forming a physical and visual relationship between the gallery and the old Grammar school. The gallery now has direct access to the sculpture garden and views of its historic neighbour. The timber compliments the terrazzo and white tile finish while forming a clear distinction between new and pre-existing.