Art: The Harley Gallery Scoops Top Prize amongst Four RIBA Awards

The new gallery at The Harley Gallery, on the Welbeck Estate near Worksop, which houses the treasures of The Portland Collection, was last night awarded four accolades at the RIBA East Midlands Awards, including ‘Building of the Year’.

 

The prestigious awards ceremony, organised by the Royal Institute of British Architects (RIBA), took place on Wednesday 27th April at Nottingham Contemporary and recognises architectural excellence. Hosted by BBC East Midlands TV presenter Marie Ashby and guest of honour RIBA President, Jane Duncan, The Harley Gallery walked away with a ‘RIBA regional award’, as well as ‘RIBA East Midlands Sustainability Award’, ‘RIBA East Midlands Conservation Award’ and the top prize ‘RIBA East Midlands Building of the Year’.

 

Working alongside Hugh Broughton Architects, the new gallery opened in March 2016 after several years of planning and is carefully curated and designed to display a world class collection. The Portland Collection is one of the finest accumulations of paintings, sculpture, books, tapestries and furniture in private hands and was assembled by the Dukes of Portland and their ancestors, whom have lived at Welbeck Abbey for over 400 years.

 

 

Lisa Gee, Director at The Harley Gallery, said: “We wanted a building which would hold its own among the historic buildings already on the Welbeck Estate and that would have longevity. The finished building and its displays draw on all of our ideas and inspirations. Architectural concerns, curatorial ideas and historic interiors all play their part in giving the new gallery its unique atmosphere. The lovely handmade bricks for the entrance pavilion, and beautiful attention to detail in all of the finishes, hark back to The Harley Foundation’s commitment to craftsmanship and the mark of the hand.”

 

RIBA Regional Director Mike Baulcombe said of The Portland Collection: “This is an exceptional project, evidenced by the well-deserved four awards received, including the coveted RIBA East Midlands Building of the Year. The judges were particularly impressed by the perfect combination of a highly informed client willing to invest in the best possible design solution, and an innovative architect in Hugh Broughton, who understood the complex site and carefully integrated old and new elements using strong sustainability and conservation principles.”

 

RIBA East Midlands Award winners will also be considered for a highly-coveted RIBA National Award in recognition of their architectural excellence, which will be announced in June. Following this a shortlist for the RIBA Stirling Prize, for the Best Building of the Year, will be drawn from the RIBA National award-winning buildings later in the year.

 

For more information on the awards and winners, visit the RIBA Awards 2016 website.