My first module submission in first year is a cultural context essay about anything of our choice. From the seminar back in December the head of the module suggested, go for any building you’ve never visited but want to learn more about. So I did, The Hepworth Gallery in Wakefield.
During research into the Hepworth Gallery in Wakefield, my initial thoughts were strongly negative towards the architecture, specifically the brutalist concrete forms. From images online it seemed to be a large mass of concrete, dropped into the heart of a decaying and run-down city in desperate need of some love. Does a city like Wakefield possess an art collection to justify such an iconic art gallery? I could see the architect pull some inspiration from the neighbouring buildings but certainly wasn’t sold on the project. Then I discovered how wrong I could be. They always say don’t judge a book by its cover. In Chipperfield’s own words, “we constantly judge buildings we haven’t seen”
This essay has given an interesting insight into not only design and construction of galleries but also their context and value within society. It has made me think about questions I’d never previously thought about and broaden my understanding of cultural buildings. I’ve submitted this essay and await feedback and grading and looking onwards to the next submission…
The Damp Patch 🧱 