Work to build a garden workshop and yard designed by Mary Duggan Architects will commence at The Hepworth Wakefield

The small-scale building and yard, sensitively designed by Mary Duggan Architects, will provide dedicated space for storage of tools, equipment and materials, a semi-covered work yard with plant nursery, and workshop space for The Hepworth Wakefield’s Cultural Gardener and her team of volunteers.

A new studio space in the workshop will enable The Hepworth Wakefield to provide more opportunities for volunteering, horticultural workshops and learning events to support local young people into careers in the horticultural industry.

The development of dedicated gardening space also allows The Hepworth Wakefield to offer a new Horticultural Traineeship. This two-year paid traineeship, delivered in partnership with Cliff Bank Nursery near Harrogate, has been generously supported by The Julia Rausing Trust. The traineeship will be open to people living in Yorkshire with a keen interest in horticulture and a commitment to building their skills and experience in order to gain employment in the gardening world.

The Trainee will gain hands-on experience in managing a world-class public garden as well as developing skills in propagating a range of plants at Cliff Bank Nursery. One day a week will be spent at a local college, where the trainee will work towards Level 2 or 3 horticultural qualifications. Information on how to apply will be available on The Hepworth Wakefield’s website in the spring.

The Garden Workshop has been designed in a way that complements the wider site – the architecture of the gallery building designed by David Chipperfield, the Tom Stuart-Smith garden and the red brick Victorian mills opposite that are being restored for the 21st century – whilst allowing visitors to witness the constant upkeep and horticultural tasks necessary to keep the garden thriving. Its innovative exterior structure will encourage biodiversity by providing homes for invertebrates, bats and birds. The yard will also enable good practices such as the collecting of rainwater and on-site composting.

Olivia Colling, Interim Director & CEO of The Hepworth Wakefield, said: ‘We are delighted to be working with Mary Duggan on this important development of our outdoor site. Duggan’s rigorous approach to understanding the complex requirements of our garden programme – one that engages visitors while allowing our gardener space to work – combined with a deep sympathy for ensuring the building sits well within the wider context of Wakefield Waterfront, and particularly adjacent to our iconic David Chipperfield designed gallery, has been inspirational. The workshop and yard will transform the way we look after our beautiful Tom Stuart-Smith garden, creating a base for all the activity that goes into making sure it is a special space for many years to come. The new building is also important in helping us realise our long-held ambition to provide more opportunities for more people to benefit from our garden. We are so grateful to The Julia Rausing Trust for supporting our ambition to provide a traineeship which will give someone who might not otherwise have the possibility to go into horticulture, an in-depth, hands-on learning experience with our talented Gardener and with Cliff Bank Nursery.’

Founded in 2017, Mary Duggan Architects has earned a reputation for creating innovative and thought-provoking architecture. The studio’s projects constantly challenge architectural convention, with a strong focus on humanity, ethical practices, and the intrinsic value of materials. Duggan has received numerous industry awards for design excellence and in 2013, was nominated for Woman Architect of the Year.

This project is made possible through a grant from the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government and with thanks to Wakefield Council. New tools, equipment and interior fit out are supported by The Julia Rausing Trust and The Finnis Scott Foundation. Planting around the workshop has been supported by Stanley Smith (UK) Horticultural Trust.