Art Gallery Extension in Oxford
Modern Art Oxford was established in 1965 to provide a venue for contemporary art. All of its activities – including its exhibitions, events, and workshops – are free of charge to the public. Arts Council England provides funding to the gallery, thereby assisting it in carrying out its declared goal: to help people understand art. Situated on the premises of a former brewery, the gallery was renovated in January 2010 to promote access to and use of the gallery. This involved transforming an existing delivery yard into a new type of gallery space for the UK, a ‘storefront gallery’ venue. The new 5 x 15 x 5 m ramped lobby is positioned as an installation work; not permanent, plastered or white, but carefully constructed from massive engineered timber and polycarbonate panels. Artists will in turn react to and transform this entry space with an ongoing programme of exhibits. The yard provides a new entrance and overall image for the museum on a more active street frontage, with level access, in central Oxford. Streetscape improvements are envisioned with the scheme as catalyst. The yard is intended to attract pedestrians and cyclists; shoppers and tourists are as welcome as students and regular gallery-goers. The facade connects the gallery directly with the Oxford streetscape by day. At night, a painted and perforated roller shutter invites the passer-by to view interior and exterior as one.
