The Harris

Re-imagining the Harris

Buttress are working with the Harris Museum, Art Gallery and Library to revitalize the offer within this wonderful grade I listed building. The project is lottery funded and celebrates the building, making it more accessible and relevant moving forward.

The proposal brings together architectural and exhibition design to maximise the Harris' offer. Key to achieving this, is improving the permeability and accessibility of the building. By accentuating the entrance to Lancaster Road, introducing a new internal lift and staircase, and introducing a new changing places facility on the ground floor, accessibility to the wider public is considerably enhanced.

The architecture internally is celebrated, opening up the volumes of galleries and removing elements previously inserted that detract from the significance of the building. Restoration and repair to the building will reverse issues of water ingress and improve future maintenance.

The external loggia to Lancaster Road is being repurposed to house the circulation core. A number of options were investigated and consulted upon. The proposals create an infill with a fretwork finish. This is intended as a contemporary and complementary response to the original architecture. The Internal remodelling will allow for increased blending of museum, library and gallery spaces, creating additional facilities for children and young people and enabling more of the Harris' extensive collections to be displayed.

The proposals are thoroughly informed by the Conservation Plan produced by the Buttress Heritage Consultancy team. The plan outlines the history and significance of the Harris, and captures the issues and opportunities that face it. This is based on consultation with staff from across the organization, to understand the challenges they face, and their aspirations for the building’s future.

Discover Preston

Buttress completed the redevelopment of the Harris' Discover Preston Gallery in 2012.

The project informed by our first iteration of the Museum's Conservation Plan, sought to reinforce the significance of the gallery space by removing a 1980s mezzanine floor. With the full scale of the gallery revealed, and detail repaired, Buttress worked alongside the exhibition designers to create a new permanent exhibition gallery.

The new exhibition re-displays key artefacts from the museum and, with the architecture of the gallery, creates a coherent and attractive space.