Patel Taylor

In converting a barn into an arts centre, Patel Taylor deliberately contrasted the massive, rough qualities of the existing structure and mature landscape around it, with sharp and clear contemporary places. These additions provide the modifications that make the function specific. A sculpted, rendered wall marks the entrance and continues into the building where it terminates in a hearth, making a focal point for the building. Ash floors define an enfilade of rooms and conceal the services, while a strip of stone paving links all the spaces. Their smooth textures contrast with the hewn walls and timber trusses, whose roughness contrasts all the more after light restorations.

RIBA Award 1992