Established in 1977, the Yorkshire Sculpture Park has pioneered the practice of curating temporary exhibitions in the open air.  The brief for the new Gallery was to create a series of indoor gallery spaces that would be capable of accommodating large and small sculptures, works on paper, and other media including light and video, and to extend the opportunities for exhibiting works in more sensitive materials.

A priority was to ensure that this new building, designed by the Feilden Clegg Bradley architectural practice, would be a sensitive intervention in the historic landscape. The solution reached was to tuck the Gallery under the sloping lawn of the 18th century Bothy Garden, a much-loved part of the Sculpture Park, with extensive views over the Bretton Estate. 

Three light-filled gallery spaces have been simply defined by concrete, glass, Yorkshire sandstone and steel; wherever possible sustainable materials and methods have been used. The building is cleanly cut into the slope of the Bothy Garden and has a turf roof. This careful positioning and skilful landscape detailing, by Land Use Consultants, means that views across the landscape from the Bothy buildings can still be enjoyed. Extending the design of the YSP Centre, the gallery follows the line of the 18th century formal terrace. The project shows how a contemporary building can successfully work within a historic setting.

Artists and sculptors were consulted to gain a thorough understanding of what they wanted from a gallery space, resulting in a gallery which can accommodate both large and small scale sculptures, as well as works using a variety of media such as paper, light and video. The Gallery’s environmental strategy is based on the principles of passive control: maintaining a stable temperature without the need for air conditioning.

The Underground Gallery was commissioned in April 2003 and was completed in December 2004 at a cost of £2.75 million, funded by the European Regional Development Fund and Yorkshire Forward.

A selection of your comments

YSP deserves to win because it is a very popular and much loved attraction for local people which has just got a whole lot better. It is a wonderful and inspiring place to view sculpture, enjoy the park and get involved in events. The new Underground Gallery is an exciting and beautifully designed addition, which enhances the landscape and extends what the Park has to offer its many visitors. The James Turrell exhibition is stunning.
Gordon Watson, Ossett – 5 April

As an Art teacher who has brought groups of GCSE students to the YSP for the past 25 years, the Underground Gallery is an excellent addition to what was already an outstanding venue for introducing students to the world of sculpture. The Gallery blends effortlessly into the landscape and links successfully with the Visitor Centre physically via sloping paths, steps, and a lift, and visually through thoughtful selection of building materials. I particularly like the huge expanse of glass and the flooring material which links inside and outside across a wide terrace to a gently sloping area of grass bordered by a huge yew hedge. This in turn provides not only a boundary to this outside 'room' but another appropriate ground for siting and displaying sculpture. Looking forward to visiting again next week with 50 of our GCSE Art students from Oakwood Technology College, Rotherham, when one of the highlights will be the James Turrell exhibits.
Mike Maddocks  Mexborough, South Yorks - 3 May

My partner & I are regular visitors to YSP.  I am disabled and a part-time wheelchair user & it is great to be able to visit somewhere that obviously considers our needs & aims to provide Access for All.  Friends have been able to enjoy the Park by borrowing one of YSP's scooters and the staff are always very helpful and sensitive to our needs.   We love spending a day discovering what is new, revisiting our favourite works, delighting in the park in all its seasons and sampling a delicious lunch.  It was the place I choose to spend my birthday and had the extra pleasure of being given some beautiful and original jewellery from YSP's shop. The Yorkshire Sculpture Park is a place of inspiration where we have learnt and enjoyed so much.
Sue & Mike Stones, Sheffield, South Yorkshire – 4 May

The recent addition to the excellent sculpture park continues the tradition of making the study, appreciation and pure enjoyment of sculpture an even better one. Accessible to great numbers of persons, the new Underground Gallery provides a remarkable and dramatic exhibition space without stealing the show. The blending of the gallery construction into the challenging site has been achieved magnificently. The YSP provides an ideal setting to explore the interaction of sculpture within the landscape as well as other settings that offer the viewer real opportunities to recognise the complexities and thrills of the medium. It is another reason to entice visitors to the Park and extends the options available to the curators for the display and appreciation of the work of sculptors. Thank you YSP.  I hope that this latest addition to the YSP will be rewarded by the judges.
David Tebb, MA Sculpture Studies, Leeds – 7 May

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