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Hereford City of Living Crafts

Part 1 Project 2003
Edward Davies
Hannah Robertson
 University of the West of England | UK
The project explores the relationship of how an iconic building can aid an urban design strategy.

The Craft Gallery is a three and four storey building joined by an atrium. This gives a new public link, to further help in the wider context of the regeneration from the east to the west corridor of Hereford.

The building responds to its sensitive location using traditional materials in a modern form, together with a sustainable strategy. A laminated timber frame is revealed behind the masonry façade on Broad Street.

The design produces a simple but elegant, low energy resolution.



Working with a rigorously contemporary architectural language Ed has created a building which fits effortlessly into the historic core of one of England’s most relaxed and comfortable cities. The organisation is deceptively simple with galleries, shops and workspaces organised around a tall light filled space – that is more canyon than atrium. The structure is a clever reinterpretation of the traditional timber frame construction that is hidden behind so many of the neighbouring brick facades. The walls facing the narrow internal space are made with an ingenious system of interchangeable elements – windows , louvered screens, illuminated panels and doors. The street façade – the result of extensive compositional experiment – reinterprets the language of the Georgian and Victorian façades of neighbouring buildings in a manner that is both respectful and refreshing. This thoughtful building brings a touch of central Europe to the heart of England – building on an emerging tradition of architecturally adventurous interventions in Hereford.
Tutor(s)
2003
Master Plan – Urban design strategy for Hereford, showing the intensification and regeneration to the east and west sides of the area within the ring road.
Townscape Appraisal – Analysis of the characteristics in the inner part of the city.
Site Identification – Location adjacent to the existing Craft Core of Hereford. Creation of new public route will increase permeability and a landmark building will make the craft industry more identifiable.
North view of Broad Street - showing the Craft Gallery from the proposed pedestrian route from the western sector.
Broad Street/West Elevation (drawn).
Ground Floor Plan. North building contains Craft Workshops whilst the South side is the entrance to the Gallery, Shop and Café. A Courtyard lends itself to being an extension to the café whilst also displaying outdoor craft orientated objects.
Upper Floor Plans. 1st Floor: Temporary exhibition space with Workshop. 2nd Floor: Craft Worker and Permanent exhibition space. 3rd Floor: Permanent exhibition space and staff facilities. Residential Units are present on the West side of the site.
Roof Plan in Context. The large roofs give opportunity for Rainwater Harvesting and on the atrium roof the installation of Photovoltaic Panels.
Section (North-South) – showing the internal arrangement of spaces and circulation system of staircases and bridges.
North Elevation of the South Building – shows circulation system between the upper floors. Also the variation of timber panels, which are used in the design of the façade.
Inside the Atrium – showing the spatial, localised material quality, and panel variation used in the construction.
Internal View – showing the finishes and timber construction.
Environmental Strategy – showing the amount of Natural Light as well as the Natural Ventilation System present in the building.
Broad Street/West Elevation (montage).
South East Aerial View – showing Craft Gallery in Context.
North West Aerial View – showing Craft Gallery in Context.
South East Aerial View – showing Craft Gallery in City Context.
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