Page 65 - Studio International - May June 1975

The Alistair McAlpine Gallery

Ashmolean Museum, Oxford, 1974

Architects: York, Rosenberg & Mardall. Partner in charge: Brian Henderson

The Alistair McAlpine Gallery in the
Ashmolean Museum department of
Western Art was constructed in the
centre of the old building over the
Egyptian Gallery in what used to be a
lightwell. It demanded much care in
construction to prevent damage to the
surrounding rooms.
Although the Ashmolean has no
permanent collection of modern art, the
condition of the donation to the museum
was that the room should be used to show
special exhibitions of modern art for
about one third of the year. A further
function of the room was to hold
occasional small receptions and meetings.
The room is so discretely integrated
into the existing structure that it seems
part of the natural flow of space. The
decoration is simple with a bright chrome
hanging rail at the top of the wall panels
of beige coloured fabric. The floor is
Travertine and the room is fully air
conditioned. The timber fittings were
specially designed for the gallery. •

Christopher Dean

Interior looking west
2 Interior looking east
3 Section and plan
3

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