Christ Church Picture Gallery

SP 5106 SE ST ALDATES

612/9/10036 Christ Church Picture Gallery

• II*

Art gallery. 1965-68. Designed by Powell and Moya. Stone rubble, Portland stone and reinforced concrete. Bronze diamond shaped mullions to windows. 1-storey. Reached through the south range of Canterbury Quad, down a flight of steps. The building is `L' shaped, enclosing a small grassy court to the left which can be seen through the glazing of the broad entrance passage which links the galleries, the roof of which gently rises. There is access to the right to a small gallery and a larger gallery, and at the far end to two further galleries, one of which is a darkened space without natural light, intended for the exhibition of old master drawings. The other galleries are top lit by concealed perimeter daylight, with electric lighting from the same source. Portland stone dressings internally with painted rough-textured plaster to walls. Timber boarded roof to centre of large gallery supported upon four unpainted board-marked concrete pilotis. Simple heavy metal gates with vertical bars internally sliding to close galleries. Glazing to corridor gallery starts at waist height, and comprises a continuous band of narrow vertical lights, separated by substantial bronze diamond-shaped mullions. Glass itself with slight grey tint. Broad stone cill. Unpainted concrete pilotis support the ceiling which has gloss finish. Through the glazing can be seen the stone and concrete ramp which encloses the third side of the grassy court; the ramp is grassed on top and enables access to the paving-covered roof of the gallery. The gallery is exemplary as a subtle and attractively detailed building which, while being entirely in the Modern idiom, fits with great sensitivity into this important history setting. (Buildings of England: Pevsner N: Oxfordshire)

Listing NGR: SP5156506037