The gallery design is conceived as a contemporary response to the wonderful historic context of the Stade. It is shaped by the buildings around it – allowing views of the net shops when looking down Rock-a-Nore Road – and carving out a small public space that echoes the courtyards between the net shops further down the Stade. The two-storey mass of the building is pushed off the street, and the south side is cut back to form a first floor terrace which also lessens the size of the building when viewed from the beach.
The building will be clad in ceramic tiles glazed in a dark glaze with a metallic hue. These will reflect the extraordinary seaside light as it changes during the day and the seasons, and will break up the surface of the building into a shimmering surface. The dark colour is intended partly to resonate with the dark weatherboarding of the net shops, while the material will be long-lasting, durable, easy to maintain and contemporary. The roofscape will be animated by a series of zinc-clad rooflights, ensuring that the view down on the building from the cliffs will be as exciting as the view from the street and the beach.
Internally, the building will contain a large, flexible space for temporary exhibitions and a series of smaller galleries that will hold the Jerwood Art Collection. There will also be a sculpture courtyard, first floor cafe overlooking the beach, and a large education space. The gallery is being designed by young architects HAT Projects.
Hastings, UK
