Henry Moore Studios & Gardens

Set within the former home and working estate of Henry Moore, the project builds on the Foundation’s long-standing focus on education and public engagement. The brief centred on adapting the existing barn to support a broader programme of workshops, talks, and exhibitions, while improving environmental performance and strengthening connections to the surrounding landscape. The material strategy draws directly from the estate, using reclaimed elements to continue Moore’s pragmatic approach to making and construction.

New extensions reorganise access and circulation, allowing learning spaces to operate independently from the main gallery and accommodating a more varied pattern of use throughout the day. The existing structure has been enclosed within an outer layer formed of reclaimed timber, which works in combination with natural sheep’s wool insulation to improve thermal performance. The additions extend from the barn to the west and north-east, providing dedicated learning spaces and a more legible entrance sequence, alongside a covered connection to the wider site.

The structural design retains the existing steel portal frame. Timber forms both the extension and internal fit-out, including a mezzanine level that accommodates plant. The new exposed solid Douglas fir roof beams are supported by the existing steel frame and use traditional timber joints, echoing the other historic buildings on the site. A suspended timber ground floor and lightweight roof build-up minimise additional load on the existing structure while allowing the frame to remain exposed internally. Reclaimed steel elements from the original building are cut down and reused as lintels, embedding material reuse within the primary structure.

Below ground, foundations are formed using screw piles, reducing ground disturbance and allowing construction within the constraints of the rural site. The civil strategy integrates new drainage with the existing on-site treatment system, extending the network in response to the reconfigured layout and increased demand.

The building now accommodates more flexible, year-round use, supporting the Foundation’s plans for an expanded programme of exhibition, learning, and making across a wider range of audiences.