Kettle's Yard
Engineering a modern gallery extension with a historic home at its heart
Kettle’s Yard is a beautiful house with a remarkable collection of modern art and a gallery for contemporary art exhibitions. It is a beloved Cambridge institution located near the city’s historic centre. The gallery was once home to art collector Jim Ede, who in 1956 bought and converted a set of old, dilapidated cottages into his home, where he displayed his collection of modern art and freely opened his home to visitors.
Part-way through the 9-year project, a new museum director secured additional funding and increased the project scope. Larger dedicated, educational and gallery spaces were added to enhance the schools' programme and provide more opportunities to exhibit bigger artworks and travelling exhibitions.
The new design gently updates the original cottage houses, and the 1970s extension was partly demolished and rebuilt. New spaces include a street-side entrance, two spacious double-height galleries, a window display area, an education wing, a shop and a cafe. We worked closely with Jamie Fobert Architects (JFA) and the main contractor SDC to design and sequence this complex and highly sensitive gallery refurbishment project to preserve and extend the life of the gallery.
- Architect
- Jamie Fobert Architects
- Client
- University of Cambridge
- Location
- Cambridge, UK
Impact
Our designs for temporary and permanent structural support dealt with limited street access and the client's requirements for double-height spaces while retaining the façade.
The gallery extension provides new high-quality contemporary spaces suitable for displaying larger art collections and travelling exhibitions.
Our structural engineers dealt with tough ground conditions including archaeological remains and found a workable approach that combined the old and new elements of the scheme.
Awards
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2020 Civic Trust Award
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2019 RIBA National Award
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2019 RIBA East Award
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2019 BD 'Public Building' Award & Gold Award
History & Context
In the 1920s and 30s, Jim Ede was a curator at the Tate which led to him and his wife Helen becoming avid collectors of 20th Century art.
In 1954, Jim wanted to create, “…a living place where works of art could be enjoyed… where young people could be at home unhampered by the greater austerity of the museum or public art gallery.”
Two years later, Kettle’s Yard was the gallery he formed when he bought and converted a set of old, dilapidated cottages into his home, and to show his collection of modern art. The 1970s extension added by Sir Leslie Martin and David Owers is widely considered as an exemplar of late modern architecture. Kettle’s Yard was left to the University of Cambridge when Jim died.
Kettle's Yard
Our Approach
Retaining a beloved institution
We faced major challenges at Kettle’s Yard including the overall site complexity, its delicate location, access issues as well as the gallery being a much beloved Cambridge institution.
Much of the Castle Street terrace was semi-derelict following a fire 20 years ago. As a recognised building of interest, fondly regarded by the public, the existing façade was retained while new facilities were formed behind.
Our designs for temporary and permanent structural support dealt with limited street access and the client's requirements for double-height spaces while retaining the façade. The gallery extension provides new high-quality contemporary spaces suitable for displaying larger art collections and travelling exhibitions.
We faced major challenges at Kettle’s Yard including the overall site complexity, its delicate location, access issues as well as the gallery being a much beloved Cambridge institution.
Much of the Castle Street terrace was semi-derelict following a fire 20 years ago. As a recognised building of interest, fondly regarded by the public, the existing façade was retained while new facilities were formed behind.
Our designs for temporary and permanent structural support dealt with limited street access and the client's requirements for double-height spaces while retaining the façade. The gallery extension provides new high-quality contemporary spaces suitable for displaying larger art collections and travelling exhibitions.
Combining old and new
Kettle’s Yard is a challenging site, situated next to St Peter’s Church and running adjacent to the 17th Century Folk Museum and Tearoom building. Its site is of archaeological significance with tricky ground conditions including water in the groundworks.
Our structural engineers dealt with tough ground conditions including archaeological remains and found a workable approach that combined the old and new elements of the scheme.
Kettle’s Yard is a challenging site, situated next to St Peter’s Church and running adjacent to the 17th Century Folk Museum and Tearoom building. Its site is of archaeological significance with tricky ground conditions including water in the groundworks.
Our structural engineers dealt with tough ground conditions including archaeological remains and found a workable approach that combined the old and new elements of the scheme.
Quote
“The groundbreaking home-turned-gallery’s £11m extension is both exceptional and modest – perfectly in keeping with the ethos of its visionary creator.”
Construction
The 9-year project includes educational and gallery spaces to enhance the schools' programme and provide more opportunities to exhibit bigger artworks and travelling exhibitions.
Kettle's Yard
Finalisation
