Client – Heaton Cooper

Heaton Cooper Studio

The Heaton Cooper landscapes are iconic and synonymous of the Lake District. Since childhood I have been inspired by the Heaton Cooper landscapes and artwork that has hung on the walls of the Cunliffe’s hotel and home.

As a local family business, Ben Cunliffe Architects were enormously proud to be asked to work with the Heaton Cooper foundation on developing the Grasmere gallery and business of this four generation artist family.

Concept meetings developed the proposals for a three phase development plan. Phase I carried out in 2014 proposed a new gallery in the existing store, and remodelling of the art shop and existing gallery.

Phase II commencing in January 2017 will see a complete facade remodel with an extensive new glazed entrance, foyer, centrally linking all the galleries and a cafe space.

Phase III will substantially extend the East gable of the building providing a restaurant and first floor education centre.

All the phases will provide the opportunity to show to the public more of the exhaustive and fascinating wealth of the foundation material including artwork, sculptures, diaries and family photos.

The challenge was to preserve the heart of the gallery created by William Heaton Cooper in 1938 while developing the facilities and gallery space. We very much hope and believe the designs compliment the best of old and new.