Henry Moore Institute

For this post I'm re-looking at a building that I've always known but possibly overlooked. 
The simple façade is extremely well executed and is prominent yet low key, not in competition with the neighbouring grandeur of the Library and Town Hall but a stand alone example of quality architecture. The architects have succeeded at creating something from nothing and something very special at that.

One approach to the site would have been to replace or completely hide the existing gable and build a new façade which I'm sure would have been perfectly adequate, however, what they have done is something much more interesting by interacting with the gable wall. The highly polished marble has the same quality of workmanship and quality as the red brick façade of the original building yet works well in contrast to the rough and unrefined gable wall. The tall entranceway which cuts into the block of marble has the same exaggerated proportions of the doorways on the redbrick face, the teeth-like indents of the small upper windows give a greater scale to the wall slab and entrance way and again replicate the forms seen on the main building.


The form of the building is also very apt for its purpose of a gallery, sculpting itself to the gable wall, framed against the blank render and displayed upon a raised plinth. Though the building is very low-key the glittering and shining marble sets it apart from the other stone and brick buildings along the row, defining itself in a different way to surroundings but with equal weight and importance. In a more literal sense, the buildings façade draws on the clean simple lines and use of marble seen in Henry Moores own work which the building houses.


I'm really not sure about copyright...all the images on this page are from leodis.net [a fantastic website I may have to do my next post on] or from google maps street view.
The architects website [www.dixonjones.co.uk/www/dixon_jones.html] has an eight frame summary of the project. Some information on the development of the site leading up to the present facade visit [www.leodis.net/discovery/discovery.asp?page=20031028_930446804&topic=2003114_561367214&subsection=2003114_579372585] also the institutes web address [www.henry-moore.org/hmi]

Merchants Quay Leeds

Choosing a building for my first post [discounting my rather long winded introduction] has been difficult. My initial though was obviously to pick something that would show off my architectural taste and impress anyone reading: to go for something famous or obscure, iconic or controversial, historic or modern. In the end this proved too daunting, and seeing as I don't expect anyone to read this it doesn't really matter!

Merchants Quay in Leeds [Stephenson Bell Architects] is a really good example of quality urban architecture. Completed 2001 its now around 11 years old and unlike many of its surrounding younger apartment blocks its wearing very well. This is in no small part due to the material choice and quality of design and finish which are simple and respond to the surrounding context, not attempting to be over ambitious which often results in cheap looking buildings where most of the driving concepts are compromised by cost saving. Keeping the design simple and avoiding complicating the building with excessive and costly architectural 'gestures' they evidently invested time and money into the detailing, materiality and finishes of the building giving it a longevity.

Many of the developments in Leeds are an amalgamation of glazing, render and composite panels which I guess originally were to down to advancements in technology and used to contrast the traditional brick and stone of Leeds thus standing out and better defining themselves as modern. Many of these, however, already look tired and in need of repair and maintenance to replace dented panels and remove water markings from poorly designed detailing; again showing the importance and long-term value of investing in the basic architectural qualities of a building.

The traditional choice of brick at Merchants Quay allows it to sit comfortably within its surroundings with the differing levels and introduction of additional materials [stone, galvanised steel and zinc] breaking up the mass of quite a large building into a series of masses more suited to the areas architecture. 

In all, this is a prime example of how to get the basics right.

A few links: Stephenson Bell Architects [www.stephenson-bell.com], though has since changed to [www.rogerstephenson-architects.com] both links end up in the same place. Also maybe look at [www.landscapeprojects.co.uk/merchants-quay/].