An engineered timber solution from Finnforest Merk has helped provide a central focus for the redevelopment of the Herbert Art Gallery & Museum in Coventry.
Architects Pringle Richards Sharratt designed a scheme consisting of two new galleries, a history centre, underground city archive and 50-metre long public covered arcade. They were challenged with engaging the existing gallery with public spaces around it, including the old cathedral ruins and new cathedral building.
A partially glazed gridshell arcade formed of glulam was the solution, with the gridshell resembling the interior of the city’s cathedral roof.
Meanwhile, the history centre was topped by a curving glulam beam and solid timber panel structure, supported by spruce columns. The mono pitch roof curves upwards to meet the edge of the arcade.
Finnforest glulam was specified for its strength and lightweight properties, as well as forming a point of architectural interest.
