"Nottingham Contemporary was designed by the award winning architects Caruso St John, based in London’s East End. One inspiration was the surrounding Lace Market, specifically the bold, elegant design of the warehouses that serviced the city’s world famous trade in the 19th century. Artists’ uses of raw former warehouses spaces (e.g. In New York in the 70s and Berlin in the 90s) were also an inspiration for some of its internal spaces. Its irregular s tructure was created by maximising the use of the available land. The site is said to be oldest in the city – it was the site of a Saxon fort, a medieval Town Hall, and finally a late Victorian railway cutting. The steps at the side of the building have recreated a historic right of way.
At over 3,000 square metres, Nottingham Contemporary is one of the largest contemporary art centres in the UK. It has four galleries - lit by 132 skylights – a performance and film Space, a Learning room, The Study, The Shop and Café.Bar.Contemporary. The building appears larger on the inside than outside, since much of its north end is sunk into the sandstone cliff that runs the length of the city centre. At the same time it is a remarkably open building: large windows offer direct views from the street into the galleries, shop, café and offices."
“London practice Caruso St John Architects have completed an art centre in Nottingham, UK.
Called Nottingham Contemporary, the project is inspired by artists' spaces in down-town New York during the 1960s. Located in the Lace Market area of the city, the design aimed to recreate the feeling of found spaces in a new building.”
Called Nottingham Contemporary, the project is inspired by artists' spaces in down-town New York during the 1960s. Located in the Lace Market area of the city, the design aimed to recreate the feeling of found spaces in a new building.”
The facade is clad in lace-patterned, pre-cast concrete, inspired by the regular and repeated surfaces of the surrounding warehouses.
Two blocks on the roof are covered in fluted gold anodised aluminium.
The main entrance to the building is from Upper Yard. A large canopy, like a cinema marquee marks the point of entry, and even before entering, one can see art within the depth of the building. Passing through glazed entrance doors one enters into the first in a network of five rooms. The ground floor galleries have a 4.5 metre clear height and even top lighting that is moderated by a grid of lightweight coffers that are suspended within the steel roof structure.
The centre opened to the public on Saturday.
The galleries are defined by thin, non load bearing walls, and are connected by large glazed openings that afford views across the width and length of the floor and which lend flexibility to how this suite of rooms can be used. The northern most gallery is 10 metres high and has a single large roof light and a 9 metre wide window facing Weekday Cross and beyond towards the centre of Nottingham.
The lower exhibition space is a large, lozenge shaped room, 7.5 metres high and formed in concrete. One can feel that this room is built deep into the sandstone cliff. The 1.5 metre depth of the concrete beams that span the space accommodate a fully flexible theatrical rig. Retractable bleacher seating enables the space to be used for cinema and performance as well as for visual art. To the south is the café and bar that can be independently entered from Lower Yard. In the middle of the building a mezzanine level accommodates education and office spaces.
The lower exhibition space is a large, lozenge shaped room, 7.5 metres high and formed in concrete. One can feel that this room is built deep into the sandstone cliff. The 1.5 metre depth of the concrete beams that span the space accommodate a fully flexible theatrical rig. Retractable bleacher seating enables the space to be used for cinema and performance as well as for visual art. To the south is the café and bar that can be independently entered from Lower Yard. In the middle of the building a mezzanine level accommodates education and office spaces.
Reference: http://www.nottinghamcontemporary.org/our-building
http://www.dezeen.com/2009/11/16/nottingham-contemporary-by-caruso-st-john-architects/
http://www.dezeen.com/2009/11/16/nottingham-contemporary-by-caruso-st-john-architects/