Sussex Heritage Architectural Award for the "One Gallery" Project

The Sussex Heritage Trust recently awarded one of its Public and Community Architecture Awards for 2011 (Sponsored by The Lady Joseph Foundation) to the extensions and refurbishment to the Rye Art Gallery, the bulk of which was completed this year. The “One Gallery” project links the two listed buildings with a new structure to provide six integrated exhibition spaces and much improved infrastructure. Although there were similar proposals during the last 30 years, the project was instigated by the Trust Board in 2004 when there was a risk that some or all of the gallery had to be closed because of the many challenges faced at that time.

Trustee, Andrew Blyth ARIBA, architect for the project, submitted the application for the award on behalf of the Trust and attended the award event.

The judges said “A passionate volunteer led project, which admirably achieved its goals. Great imagination needed in order to successfully provide a fitting back drop for the Art in the face of some awkward architectural challenges”

Some 14 mainly local contractors were employed directly by the Trust and were coordinated by general builder, Simon Parsons. Local Architectural Technologist Doug Rigby provided all the detailed drawings and the day to day project management. Trustee David Crew advised on the internal finishes.

Chair of Trustees, Anthony Kimber, who initiated the project, provided overall direction and financial management, on hearing about the award said that,

"This award adds to the Town scape Award made by the Rye Conservation Society in 2010. The Heritage Trust judges were impressed by what has been achieved by volunteers exploiting their life skills for the benefit of the community. Given a constrained budget, aspects of the new linking building, such as the use of steel and glass, are highly imaginative and contribute significantly to the aesthetics and functionality of the new parts of the gallery. Many visitors consider this sits well between the two existing heritage buildings. I pay tribute to former Trustee, the late Robert Clay who worked on the early stages of the project and to his successor, Andrew Blyth, who tirelessly and expertly carried on the design work. There were many technical challenges to overcome; it is a credit to the whole team that the work was completed according to plan. I should also thank Rother District Council, Rye Town Council, Renaissance Southeast and the Friends of Rye Art Gallery for their financial support. There is still much to do, but after 7 years of work the Gallery is rejuvenated and set to celebrate its 50 years in style in 2015.