Whitechapel Art Gallery
Subscribe now to instantly view this image
Subscribe to the Architects’ Journal (AJ) for instant access to the AJ Buildings Library, an online database of nearly 2,000 exemplar buildings in photographs, plans, elevations and details.
Already a subscriber? Sign in
A cartouche by artist Rachel Whiteread will appear in the white space on the front facade
Edmund Sumner (website) Download Original
Unification of existing adjacent philanthropic buildings to house new exhibition, education and gallery space
The project involves the unification of the Whitechapel public library and the Whitechapel art gallery, both dating from the late nineteenth-century.
With a strong emphasis on education and community engagement, the building offers flexibility of use as well as contemporary standards of access.
A single circulation core is situated in the centre of the two buildings. An additional lift and stair sit beside the existing nineteenth-century library stair.
The ground floor library and first floor museum retain as much of their original character as possible. The main influence into these spaces is the addition of daylight through roof-lights and controlled on the first floor with external louvres.
In the upper levels of the library building, education studios have been created, as well as a north-lit studio on the top floor taking advantage of the city views.
Data
- Begun: Jun 2007
- Completed: Mar 2009
- Floor area: 3,000m2
- Sector: Arts and culture
- Total cost: £6.4M
- Procurement: JCT 98
- Address: 77-82 Whitechapel High Street, London, E1 7QX, United Kingdom
Professional Team 
- Architect: Robbrecht en Daem, Witherford Watson Mann
- Project architect: Paul Robbrecht
- Client: Trustees of Whitechapel Art Gallery
- Main contractor: Wallis Specials Projects
- Quantity surveyor: Davis, Langdon
- Planning supervisor: Tetra Consulting
- Structural engineer: Price & Myers
- Conservation Architects: Richard Griffiths Architects
- Project manager: Mott MacDonald
- Access consultant: David Bonnett Associates
- External Lighting: Jason Bruge Studios
- Services engineer: Max Fordham LLP
Suppliers
- Access consultant: David Bonnett Associates
- External Lighting: Jason Bruge Studios
AJBL Sponsor
Armstrong World Industries
A global leader in providing customised, multi material ceiling and wall solutions