9 Stunning Galleries in the UK to See for their Contemporary Architecture
The UK has seen a growth in the number of art galleries that have embraced contemporary architectural design. These gallery buildings are blurring the lines between art and architecture. They are not just spaces to display art, but are also works of art in themselves.
In this blog post, I have listed 9 architecturally stunning art galleries in the UK. These buildings have adopted innovative design, with design philosophies that have embraced the artistic purpose of the building.
Table of Contents
2. The Hepworth Wakefield, West Yorkshire
3. The Blavatnik Building at The Tate Modern
5. The Sainsbury Centre for Visual Arts, Norwich
6. The Nottingham Contemporary
1. V&A Dundee
CC Image courtesy of Dave Paterson Flickr
V&A Dundee is a stunning museum located in Dundee, Scotland. This museum opened in 2018 and it displays the best in Scottish design and creativity, from fashion and textiles to furniture and architecture.
The V&A Dundee is the first Victoria and Albert Museum outside London
The museum was designed by Kengo Kuma, a world-renowned Japanese architect. He adopted a building design inspired by the cliffs along the Scottish coastline. To achieve this look, the exterior is clad in pre-cast concrete panels that reflect the natural light and create an ever-changing facade.
The interior of the museum is equally impressive, with spacious galleries that showcase a wide range of design and fashion exhibits.
2. The Hepworth Wakefield, West Yorkshire
The Hepworth Wakefield is a modern art museum located in Wakefield, West Yorkshire, that was designed by the acclaimed British architect David Chipperfield. The museum opened its doors to the public in 2011.
The museum features ten individual gallery spaces that are all flooded with natural light. The museum provides a space to celebrate the work of local and renowned artist Barbara Hepworth, while also providing a platform for contemporary artists to showcase their work.
The architectural design of the building has drawn inspiration from the sculptures of Barbara Hepworth. It comprises ten trapezoidal blocks that rises out of the River Calder. This building has no obvious front or back elevation, but is visible from all directions and is accessed via a bridge over the water approach. The concrete facade, with the varying scale and form, gives the building a sculptural appearance.
3. The Blavatnik Building at The Tate Modern
The Blavatnik Building is an extension to The Tate Modern that opened in 2016. This extension was designed by the Swiss architectural firm, Herzog & de Meuron.
The architectural design had a strong philosophy - the concept sought to draw inspiration from the building's heritage as a power station, such as the towering chimney stacks and the raw concrete facade.
The building itself is a stunning example of contemporary architecture, with a unique shape that resembles a twisted pyramid. The interior is equally impressive, with spacious galleries that are flooded with natural light, thanks to the building's unique skylight system.
For more information about the Tate galleries, please read here.
4. Firstsite, Colchester
Firstsite is a contemporary art gallery located in Colchester, Essex that opened in 2011. It gets its name as it is located on one of the 'first sites' of Roman settlement in the UK.
The gallery was designed by world-renowned architect Rafael Viñoly and opened in 2011. His building adopts a unique design - a curved building that wraps around an 18th century garden. The building is clad is a distinctive golden metal tile that changes colour in different lights.
Firstsite respects its historical context; it sits on a concrete raft foundation which did not require a deep excavation, allowing it to float over a Roman Mosaic floor, which is set into the floor beneath protective glass.
Inside, the curvature of the gallery creates a unique gallery experience that provides a sense of journey as the artworks are encountered.
5. The Sainsbury Centre for Visual Arts, Norwich
The Sainsbury Centre for Visual Arts is located on the campus of the University of East Anglia in Norwich.
This gallery was designed by renowned architect Norman Foster and opened in 1978. At the time, it was one of the first of the emerging high-tech style structures to be used for a cultural building - a style which has now been applied to numerous museums and art galleries around the world.
The Sainsbury Centre for Visual Arts is positioned within a landscaped setting, surrounded by a beautiful sculpture park that contains a range of contemporary artworks.
Inside, it comprises a vast-hangar like space that is arranged into a series of smaller interconnecting areas that showcase a wide variety of art, from contemporary works to ancient artifacts.
For more information about this gallery and contemporary art in Norwich, please read here.
6. The Nottingham Contemporary
CC Image courtesy of John Lord Wiki Commons
The Nottingham Contemporary Gallery is located in the Lace Market area of the city. The building was designed by architectural firm, Caruso St John. Their design concept for the gallery building was based on the downtown New York artists warehouse spaces of the 1960s.
Drawing on the industrial context of the Lace Market area, the facade of the gallery is clad in lace-patterned, pre-cast concrete.
The interior of the gallery is equally impressive, with a series of interconnected exhibition spaces that flow seamlessly from one to the next.
This building blends into the urban fabric of Nottingham, while also making a bold statement with its unique, modernist design.
7. MK Gallery, Milton Keynes
CC Image courtesy of Edgar Jimenez Flickr
The MK Gallery in Milton Keynes originally opened in 1999, and reopened in 2019 following an extensive expansion and renovation that was designed by 6a Architects.
The design philosophy for these works paid homage to the Milton Keynes original New Town masterplan and the early architecture of Milton Keynes. The gallery comprises a rectangular steel framed box, with internal gallery spaces laid out to form an axis that is drawn from the character of Milton Keynes gridded street plan.
8. Turner Contemporary, Margate
The Turner Contemporary, Margate Gallery is located in a unique location, overlooking the North Sea. This gallery was designed by the renowned architect, David Chipperfield and opened in 2011.
The main feature of the gallery's design is the composition of six identical volumes that are finished in an acid-etched glass skin. This building has been designed to withstand the corrosive effects of the seaside environment, and the splash of waves against it.
The interconnected interior spaces have been configured to ensure that they benefit from a natural north light.
For more information about the the Turner Contemporary and for ideas on how to spend a day in Margate, please read here.
9. The Whitworth, Manchester
CC Image courtesy of Wiki Commons Arcona B&B
In 2015, McInnes Usher McKnight Architects oversaw a significant renovation of The Whitworth, in Manchester.
The new glazed extension was added as part of a major refurbishment. This extension created the perfect blend between the modern architecture of the extension and the historic building.
A glass facade on the new addition gives the space a feeling of transparency and openness, and provides a new gallery area to display installations and works of modern art.
My Final Thoughts
The UK is home to many unique and innovative buildings that house some of the world's most interesting and diverse collections of art and culture. Each building has its own story to tell and has made a significant impact on the communities in which they are located. These buildings also represent the best of British architecture and design.
I hope you have found this blog post useful. If you know of any other galleries you think I should include here, please email me at sarahransomeart@gmail.com.
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