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Dulwich Picture Gallery to undergo most significant redevelopment in decades, designed by Carmody Groarke and Kim Wilkie

2023-08-10T11:35:00-04:00

London’s Southwark Council has granted approval for the redevelopment of Dulwich Picture Gallery and its gardens. Led by architects Carmody Groarke and landscape artist Kim Wilkie, the project will be the biggest redevelopment of the past two decades for the venue, which originally opened in 1817 as the UK’s first public art gallery.

Image credit: Carmody Groarke

The redevelopment will see a new timber pavilion constructed in the gallery's gardens. Characterized by circular window openings and a timber reciprocal frame roof, the pavilion is intended to serve as a “warm, tactile space for children and families to enjoy.”

Model image credit: Richard Davies

The square form of the pavilion will be angled at 45 degrees to the historic gallery to “reinforce the relationship of the pavilion with the landscape and the two entrances to the site.” Inside, the reciprocal frame roof will filter natural daylight into the center of the cruciform plan, while natural copper canopies will “provide pla...

The city of London is hit with color thanks to designer Yinka Ilori

2019-07-30T19:00:00-04:00

This past June, London celebrated its annual London Festival of Architecture. The festival showcases exhibitions, installations, workshops, and other events highlighting architecture and design in the city.

This year, London-based designer Yinka Ilori created two projects that filled the city streets with life through color. First is the multicolored pavilion, "The Colour Palace," built in collaboration with London-based architecture firm Pricegore. Located outside the Dulwich Picture Gallery, the design was inspired by the markets of Balogun in Lagos, Nigeria. Illori used the colorful African textiles found hanging throughout the markets as inspiration for the pavilion.

The Colour Palace. Image © Edward Bishop

The relationship between the pavilion and the Dulwich Picture Gallery may seem distant. However, according to the design team, the pavilion drew reference from the gallery through its geometry. Alex Gore, co-founder of Pricegore, expl...

IF_DO's mirrored pavilion reflects on the Dulwich Picture Gallery

2017-05-31T14:10:00-04:00

IF_DO, a ‘young and restless’ practice based in Peckham, have completed their rectilinear, temporary pavilion at Dulwich Picture Gallery. For the practice, which was formed only a few years ago in 2014, this is a breakthrough project; exposing their work to a whole new audience.

Al Scott, Co-founding Director, IF_DO, said:

“The Dulwich Pavilion has provided a wonderful opportunity for us to create a unique public structure in an exceptional setting. We have benefitted hugely from the freedom given by our clients and support of the London Festival of Architecture. Working in close collaboration with creative engineers StructureMode and fabricators Weber Industries to realise the project has been a great experience, and vital to its success.”

This is the first pavilion to grace the gallery’s grounds and pays tribute the John Soane’s iconic building design on its 200th anniversary since doors were first opened. Not only does this structure compliment and literally mirror its context, it w...

IF_DO chosen to design Dulwich Picture Gallery's summer pavilion

2017-01-30T04:43:00-05:00

It will be a carefully proportioned rectilinear timber structure whose movable walls are translucent mirrored screens. The translucency allows for “Pepper’s ghost” illusions where ghostly objects appear, transform and fade away. A cantilevered mesh roof will hang down around the gallery creating dappled sunshine on good days or a gentle waterfall along the sides in summer showers. The mirrored movable screens are a reference to Soane’s own playful house: the Sir John Soane’s Museum in Holborn...