Whitaker Museum Residence
A Sustainable Residence for Artists and Guests
We were runners-up in an invited competition to provide the Whitaker Museum and Art Gallery with new artist studios, artist accommodation, and visitor accommodation that would be inclusive and accessible to all. The contemporary, sustainable design of the extension connected seamlessly with the original museum and the destination café and restaurant allowing visitors to explore the past, engage with the present, and imagine the future as part of the Whitaker visitor experience.
The £5m proposal includes five flexible artist studio spaces, three artist apartments, and eight guest rooms for overnight stays. A new sculpture hub is incorporated directly to the north of the museum, providing space for additional exhibitions, events, and a new threshold at the rear of the museum. This new ‘back door’ improves access and connectivity between the main building complex and the individual accommodation units used by local community groups, while also creating a clearer route to the upper museum garden, which offers far-reaching views of the Pennine Hills.
The design is inspired by the museum’s permanent exhibitions, particularly the natural world and valley displays with the colourful diamond-shaped roof and wall tiles are intended to reflect bird plumage. The first floor dormers and the rear entrance act as "eyes on the world."
Sculpture and community hub linking the key wings of the museum
Materials were selected for their sustainability and environmental credentials, as well as their creative potential. The tiles are made from recycled plastic, available in several colours and shades, with plans to collaborate with an artist on the elevational design. External walls at the rear entrance and dormers were constructed from coloured wood particle and cement board, whilst the ground plinth used local walling stone reclaimed from the site to make way for the extension. The structure itself will be predominantly timber, with natural insulation materials.
View from the elevated rear sculpture garden across to the Pennine Hills
The proposal was designed using Passivhaus principles for the building’s fabric. Heating, hot water, and cooling was to be provided by a ground source heat pump (GSHP), with boreholes installed beneath the building footprint. Solar panels integrated within the roof tiles would contribute to renewable energy generation, supporting the goal of net-zero carbon emissions. Rainwater harvesting and greywater systems were to be incorporated and Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) were to be implemented, aiming for a BREEAM outstanding rating.
Concept Model