Date: 23/09/2003
Source: Wakefield Council
The competition to design the new multi-million pound centrepiece to house the District's art collection and sculptures by Barbara Hepworth on Wakefield's prestigious Waterfront development reaches a key stage next month.
The public are being invited to have their say on the initial designs produced by six leading architects before one is chosen as architect for the project.
The exhibition, in Wakefield Town Hall on October 10, links in with the Greening of Wood Street, over the weekend of October 10-12 as part of a Yorkshire Festival of Places Celebration.
Initial designs from the six architects shortlisted from the original 111 who expressed an interest in submitting designs for the Waterfront Gallery and Centre for Creative Arts will be on view. Comments from the public will be fed back to the Judging Panel who will announce their decision in November.
The designs will also be on show in the Ridings Shopping Centre on October 8 and at Pontefract Museum, the following week on October 15. The six architectural practices are:- Adjaye Associates; David Chipperfield Architects; Zaha Hadid Architects; Kengo Kuma and Associates; Snohetta and Spence and Walters and Cohen.
Cllr Peter Box, Wakefield Council's Leader, said: "The new Gallery will raise the profile of both the City and the District and so it is a vital element in the success of the Waterfront scheme. These leading architects have completed some extremely prestigious projects and the final design will, I am sure, form a major landmark of which we can all be very proud."
John Foster, Wakefield Council's Chief Executive, who is chairing the Judging Panel, said: "The design of the new Gallery is a key feature of the Waterfront Development and the competition has attracted some first-class submissions by internationally known architects.
"We hope that people will take the opportunity to come along and see the architect's initial designs as we would welcome their comments which we will take into consideration when we are selecting the winning design."
Architects across the world were invited to submit designs in a high profile competition organised jointly by the Royal Institute of British Architects and Wakefield Council for the Waterfront Gallery and Centre for Creative Arts in April this year.
The exciting new Gallery, to be built on the Headland of the River Calder in the Waterfront regeneration area will house significant works by Wakefield-born Dame Barbara Hepworth including 30 original plaster sculptures.
Wakefield's own impressive art collection will transfer to the Gallery and flexible arts space will be provided to accommodate an innovative programme of contemporary art exhibitions, educational activities and major cultural events.
Public Viewings are at:-
- 8 October: Ridings Shopping Centre - Middle Mall outside Marks and Spencer 9.00am-5.30pm
- 10 October: Lofthouse Suite, Town Hall, Wakefield 10.00am-4.00pm
- 15 October: Pontefract Museum Lecture Room 10.30am-4.30pm
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Background Information
List of six final architectural practices:-
Adjaye Associates - headed up by David Adjaye, one of the leading young architects in the UK. Adjaye Associates designed the Nobel Peace Centre which is being built in Oslo, the Dirty House in Islington which is a converted warehouse used for galleries, studios and workshops and the British Pavilion at the recently opened Venice Biennale.
David Chipperfield Architects - David Chipperfield is best known in the UK for designing the very successful River and Rowing Museum in Henley. The practice has designed major galleries and other buildings across Europe including the New Entrance Building. Museum Island in Berlin, the Ansaldo "City of Cultures" campus of museums in Milan, the Neues Museum, Berlin and the Natural History museum in Verona. The practice also designed the Figge Arts Centre, Davenport in Iowa, USA.
Zaha Hadid Architects - Zaha Hadid designed the Rosenthal Centre for Contemporary Art in Cincinnati, USA, which will be completed in 2003. She created the very exciting design for the
Centre for Contemporary Arts in Rome and is well known for other innovative designs including Vitra Fire Station in Weil Am Rhein, Germany, the tram and bus terminal in Strasbourg and the Bergisel Ski Jump in Innsbruck.
Kengo Kuma & Associates - This very experienced Japanese practice has designed major museums and galleries in Japan. These include the Museum of Hirshige Ando, the Stone Museum in Nasu, the Nasu History Museum and the Kitakami Canal Museum. Other projects include the Great Bamboo Wall in Beijing, China and the Plastic House in Tokyo.
Snohetta and Spence - This brings together the Norwegian company Snohetta and UK based Spence Associates. Past projects include the winning design for the Turner Centre in Margate, the recently completed Alexandria Library in Egypt and the Lillehammer Art Museum in Norway.
Walters and Cohen - This comparatively new practice is led by Cindy Walters and Michal Cohen. Previous projects include the Art Gallery in Durban in South Africa, a visitor and interpretation centre at Wakehurst Place in West Sussex and winning designs for the Yehudi Menuhin Memorial Recital Hall for Stoke d'Abernon, Surrey and the National Centre for Photography in Wales at Port Talbot.
Additional Note: Wakefield is one of six towns across Yorkshire hosting The Green designed as a fresh approach to public space by inviting people to take part in a two day entertainment event where Wood Street will effectively be 'grassed over'.
