Yorkshire Sculpture Park (YSP) is set in a Grade II registered landscape with numerous listed buildings and structures. It has nature conservation sensitivities and other specialist issues related to sculpture display, visitor management, land ownership and leases. It combines historic landscape conservation and contemporary landscape design in a way that is unusual in Britain.
LUC’s challenge was to introduce new facilities without detriment to landscape value or character, satisfying the client’s high aspirations within a limited budget. This was solved through site sensitive design, close working with the architect and team, thinking particularly in 3D, and the courage to use contemporary design and siting of interventions to best benefit from this extraordinary setting.
The overall project consisted of three stages:
(1) The production of an overall masterplan for the site informed by historical research and a good understanding of the large site’s extraordinary qualities
(2) The Visitor Centre and associated access road and parking
(3) The Underground Galleries
Our design philosophy was to build on strong site attributes to produce a clear concept based on reinterpreting the classic entrance/approach/arrival sequence in a contemporary manner. Throughout the design process we adopted an approach that sought to unlock opportunities rather than focus on damage limitation and we were fortunate that the team were able to persuade English Heritage to support this approach.
Over the three stages, LUC worked on the 240-hectare site for almost 10 years. The result is an exemplar of site-sensitive landscape design. LUC’s experience in historic landscape, coupled with our sensitive design approach and ability to accommodate and applaud contemporary intervention meant the brief was met completely and to considerable client and visitor satisfaction.
We are proud to have strengthened YSP’s already strong sense of place and to have enhanced the very high landscape quality of the site, providing another rich layer for the enjoyment of this and future generations of visitors to one of Europe’s top sculpture parks.
Our scheme for Yorkshire Sculpture Park won Highly Commended at the 2009 Landscape Institute Awards.
