Functionality
The former industrial building in London’s East End was converted into a charitable art foundation, breathing new life into the historic fabric of the area and seeking to immerse visitors in the unique realm of Gilbert & George through a sequence of spaces and every built detail.

The site was significantly converted to house exhibition spaces of different scale and feel on three barrier-free levels, a reception, art storage and service areas, as well as a separate caretaker's apartment and an external film room.

Creativity
The Centre has been thoughtfully converted and restored from a 1820’s former brewery building. By combining preserved, restored and contemporary elements, the project’s honours the building's industrial past aligning with the artists' vision of heritage, architecture, design and art display.

The client brief required a challenging approach to create sufficient space for the Centre's transformation on a restricted site. A new basement level was constructed under the pre-existing footprint and a new side extension was added. The aim was to complement the restored brewery with a discrete design that is exciting in its details and yet simple to behold with all moving parts concealed from the visitor providing a cutting-edge gallery interior.

Innovation
Top down construction methodology with mini-piles was adopted allowing construction work to proceed both above and below ground simultaneously. Existing brick walls were supported on permanent steel stools allowing the ground floor slab to be formed around them without the need for temporary props or needles.
External insulation in recycled glass was used as RC shuttering between 57 perimeter underpins and the new basement level structure.

Cutting Edge Lighting System with bespoke luminaires and concealed light boxes can simulate daylight and provides a wide range of lighting scenarios. Ventilation and lighting tracks are discretely concealed around light boxes to ensure no visual distraction on exhibition walls or floors.

Sustainability
Environmental: The design prioritises sustainable use of energy, water and material resources via active and passive design principles considering socio-economic and lifecycle factors, i.e. minimised demolition, re-used and re-cycled materials, high thermal mass and performance, reduced UV admittance, in-house art storage, optimised BMS, photocatalytic paints, permeable paving, harvested rainwater, biodiverse courtyard.

Social: As built representation of G&G’s "Art for All’ ethos and a gift to the community, the Centre aims to become a leading cultural institution in London and a hub for research and scholarship on the art of Gilbert & George, with a commitment to accessibility and free admission for all members of the community.

Economic: Collaboration with local small businesses, community and education groups to ensure that a broad demographic is engaged with. Over 10,000 visitors attended in the first 12 opening days.