| Architect |
Caruso St John |
|
Date Built |
Completed
2015 |
| Location |
Newport Street, London, SE11 6AJ |
| Description |
|
|
The Newport Street
Galley occupies a site across the road
from the railway viaduct that carries
trains from Vauxhall into Waterloo
Station. The street is narrow and
the other occupants are small businesses
occupying arch spaces below the railway
lines. As RIBA President Jane
Duncan said when presenting the
building's architects with the 2016
Stirling Prize, the Newport Street
Gallery, "... brings to life a
previously unloved pocket of the
city." It is clear as
you approach the gallery that it isn't
one building. It is in fact 5
buildings, three dating back to the
early years of the reign of George V and
two new additions. The old,
listed, buildings were purpose-built in
1913 as spaces in which artists could
paint scenery for the booming London
theatres. In more recent times
that had been used by Damian Hirst as
his London studio and now form part of
the gallery in which he plans to exhibit
his extensive collection of art that
includes the works of "Francis
Bacon, Banksy, Tracey Emin, Richard
Hamilton, Jeff Koons, Sarah Lucas,
Pablo Picasso, Richard Prince, Haim
Steinbach and Gavin Turk, as well as
a number of young and emerging
artists and a significant collection
of indigenous artists from the
Pacific Northwest Coast."
 In selecting the
gallery for the Stirling Prize Jane
Duncan said that, "... "Caruso St
John have created a stunningly
versatile space from a number of
linked buildings, with beautifully
crafted staircases (see
images at the bottom of the page)
and superb details including tactile
brick facades that blend the street
externally and create a succession
of wonderful gallery spaces. ....
This project exemplifies the best of
UK architecture – a highly
considered and creative project.."
  ************************************ Inside  The architect's
website explains that, "...The
ground and upper floors within the
five buildings are continuous,
allowing them to be used flexibly in
many combinations, to accommodate
both large and small exhibitions.
There are 3 large galleries on each
of the two floors, stretching in a
line from one end of the building to
the other. .....
             ..... The two gallery levels are connected by new spiral staircases and a large lift."        |
|
|
Newport
Street Gallery, Vauxhall, London
 |
