Croome Court Withdrawing Room

The National Trust property of Croome Court, Worcestershire, is now playing host to a contemporary installation designed by We Made That; the Withdrawing Room. Historically known as the ‘Blue Damask Room’, the unfurnished Drawing Room of the property, now holds a soft, contemplative space for visitors to explore.

Developed in response to the 17th century term ‘withdrawing room’ - a space to which people would withdraw for greater privacy or entertaining - the Withdrawing Room is composed of stratified and carved layers of diaphanous fabric. These layers allow the viewer to look out from within, their view of the Robert Adam interior and Capability Brown landscape beyond curated by the soft folds of iridescent material.

The Withdrawing Room is cut from over 540sqm of laser-cut fabric, and was installed in March 2011. The design was developed through workshops with staff, visitors and volunteers exploring contemporary notions of ‘withdrawing’. It is intended to explore new and innovative ways of presenting historic spaces, and responds to the unique context of Croome Court, specifically the role craftsmanship and cutting-edge patronage has played in its history.