Gainsborough’s House transformation
7 June 2017
QODA has been appointed as part of the design team to transform and redevelop Gainsborough’s House in Sudbury, the childhood home of Thomas Gainsborough (1727–88), one of the greatest artists in the history of British art.
The project will see the renovation and redisplay of the historic house to interpret, entertain and inspire about the artist, his family and social context. A new, landmark three-storey structure will replace an empty local authority building on a brownfield site next to the house. It will provide spaces for exhibitions, displays and education with four new galleries – a showcase Gainsborough gallery, a landscape studio with panoramic views over Sudbury, a community gallery and a temporary exhibition gallery/performance space.
The project has received high profile attention including from Anna Wintour and Griff Rhys Jones and was commended by the Prime Minister, Theresa May, in her speech on Heritage Lottery Fund earmarking to Parliament in October 2016. It has currently secured £6.5 million from the Heritage Lottery Fund and private donors. A shortfall of £2 million needs to be secured within the next year to keep the project on target. If Gainsborough’s House can secure these funds, building work will begin in autumn 2018 and will open to the public in 2021.
There will be a temporary exhibition about the development project at Gainsborough’s House from October 2017 to February 2018.
TAGS: Projects