SHEEP FIELD BARN DEDICATED TO THE LIFE AND WORK OF HENRY MOORE
DSDHA has transformed the Sheep Field Barn at Henry Moore Studios & Gardens to provide new learning and engagement facilities alongside enhanced gallery spaces dedicated to the life and work of Henry Moore.
Located at the Hertfordshire home of the acclaimed sculptor in the hamlet of Perry Green, the newly renovated structure sits within 70 acres of sheep fields and sculpture gardens, adjacent to the studios where Moore created his unique works. The Sheep Field Barn provides dedicated learning and making spaces where students and participants can create their own work- inspired by the same landscapes and natural environment experienced by Henry Moore.
Originally an agricultural building used for storage by Moore and later adapted by Hawkins \ Brown as a gallery in 1999, DSDHA have now reimagined the structure through a substantial refurbishment and extension that doubles its footprint. Informed by principles of regenerative design, the project creates new workshops for learning, making and engagement, improves the gallery experience and upgrades ageing building services. It also advances the Henry Moore Foundation’ s net-zero ambitions, setting a benchmark for low-carbon gallery environments.
DSDHA has upgraded the original barn with a simple lean-to‘ cart shed’ extension, extending the existing steel frame by one bay and adding a Douglas Fir timber structure to the west that sits lightly on reusable steel screw pile foundations; providing a restrained, understated complement to Moore’ s sculptures displayed within the Sheep Field. Reflecting Moore’ s ethos of reuse and frugality, the exterior is overclad with reclaimed Silver Spruce Timber from barns in Yorkshire and the interior lined with the barn’ s repurposed timber cladding, thereby reducing carbon emissions and supporting the circular economy.
The visitor entrance within the northern extension is now more clearly signalled by a more generous agricultural sliding door and a visual connection directly to the galleries and studios while the
60- REFURB & RESTORE