THE WHITWORTH
A MASTERPIECE IN BRICK AND GLASS
Archetech - Page 36
Since its reopening in February 2015, Manchester’s Whitworth, part of The University of
Manchester, has ‘wowed’ the architectural world with its new extension and renovation.
Already the £15 million redevelopment
has received a list of accolades, including
the BDA Brick Awards 2015 ‘Supreme
Award’ and ‘Best Public and Education
Building’, The Art Fund Prize of ‘Museum
of the Year’ and the RIBA National Award
2015. The building was also amongst
six elite projects shortlisted for the
prestigious RIBA Stirling Prize.
According to Whitworth Director Maria
Balshaw CBE, the expansion project has
"unlocked the potential" of the building
leading to a record number of visitors to
the gallery.
Founded in 1889 as the first English
gallery in a park, the Whitworth
has undergone several stages of
development and refurbishments over
the last 126 years in its journey from
private residence to public art gallery.
This had resulted in the somewhat
inefficient and muddled use of interior
space and the previously blank west
end of building facing the park being
unresolved and of lesser quality.