Bath’s Holburne Museum has won a special award in the prestigious Civic Trust Awards, which recognise the best new architecture and design.
The museum collected the Michael Middleton Award for its new extension, designed by Eric Parry Architects. The award is presented annually to a restoration project or new build within a conservation area.
Civic Trust Award judges said: “With its new extension, the Holburne Museum has entered a new lease of life, both as a destination for visitors to the city and for enjoyment by the local community. The design of the extension, although controversial to many, is excellent and a rare example of a successful marriage between a startling new structure and a well-loved Grade I Palladian building.”
They said the extension was beautifully designed and detailed internally and externally, creating a “jewel-like quality that enhances both the existing Palladian building and the total museum experience”.
“The complex dark greenish hues of the ceramic panels, the pattern of vertical ceramic fins and the reflections in the glass cladding, visually connect the new building to its landscape setting. Interiors function well with all new spaces having a level connection with floors in the existing museum and with the lift, for the first time, providing access to all levels. The renovation of the existing building and its collections, together with a new and more helpful display, an excellent and attractive café, and the introduction of free entry to the permanent collections, has resulted in record breaking visitor numbers.”
Bath architects Feilden Clegg Bradley Studios received a commendation for their work at London’s Chelsea Academy, which the judges said “provides an impressive solution to a tight urban site. It sits harmoniously in the local area and is immaculately constructed with spacious interiors and wonderful use of the roof space. Beautifully and imaginatively designed, this is a wonderful and inspiring building. The local community have been involved with the planning of this building from the initial stages and are very proud of it.”
The projects were among 52 recognised in the awards at a ceremony held in Edinburgh. Civic Trust Awards managing director, Malcolm Hankey said: “The Civic Trust Awards celebrate not only design excellence, but also the relationship between structures, places, the environment and communities. Winning projects have demonstrated architectural excellence whilst offering cultural, social or economic benefit to the local community.”
Factfile
The Holburne Museum of Art extension
Architect: Eric Parry Architects
Developer: The Holburne Museum of Art
Landscape Designer: Simon Johnson Landscape Design
Services Engineer: Atelier Ten
Structural Engineer: Momentum Consulting Engineers
Contractor: Sir Robert McAlpine
Quantity Surveyor: Faithful and Gould
Inclusive Design Consultant: Jane Topliss Associates
Interior Designer: Eric Parry Architects
Project Manager: Cragg Management Services
Additional credits: Faience: Shaws of Darwin, Exhibition Designers: Metaphor, Lighting Consultant: Kevan Shaw Lighting
