Museum to mark 20th anniversary of Gridshell Building
The 20th anniversary of the award-winning Downland Gridshell Building at the Weald and Downland Living Museum will be marked at a special event on June 17.
The day will feature presentations, group discussions and exhibitions as well as giving guests the chance to meet and talk to key members of the team involved in the project, the first of its kind in the UK. Museum director Simon Wardell said: “The Gridshell is a jewel in our crown here at the museum. It’s regarded as an iconic building and attracts visitors from around the world to view its spectacular and unique construction. We are delighted to be able to mark this anniversary with the building and engineering communities as well as our museum members and other interested members of the public. We are looking forward to reuniting some of the talented team that came together two decades ago to create a UK first.” Completed in 2002 with support from the Heritage Fund and Jerwood Foundation, as well as a range of other funders, the building won the
Royal Institute of British Architects’ Regional Architecture Award and the British Construction Industry Award that year. Taking just one year to complete, the building derives its strength from its double curvature and is made with a grid or lattice design using green oak.
Over the past 20 years the 12,000sqm gridshell has been used as a conservation centre, artefact store and venue for special occasions.