The Manser Practice have completed a 500sq.m internal refurbishment of the Goodwood Art Foundation for the opening of the Goodwood Sculpture Park on the Goodwood Estate.
Completed in 2006, the clarity of the original gallery had been lost following a series of ad hoc renovations for the venue following its use by the Cass Foundation which ceased in 2020. A series of careful interventions have removed these previous renovations, created new staff areas and a catering kitchen, and transformed a previously inaccessible library and archive into a new distinctive gallery space.
The existing gallery has been upgraded with energy-efficient lighting, a heavy-duty micro-cement floor and reinforced walls to allow for the hanging of large artworks. A simple material palette of sustainably reclaimed ash from the estate was used for new openings and also for movable joinery, which was designed to allow the spaces to be easily reconfigured for different events.
These simple, light-touch and low-carbon changes have improved the circulation of the building and opened up more of the existing spaces to the public, creating an additional 150sq.m of visitor space without the need for the Foundation to construct any new buildings or extensions. The six-month refurbishment was completed in time for the 2025 visitor season and hosted the grand opening and residency of the Turner Prize-winning artist Rachel Whiteread.
