Completion in 2004

With Gareth Jones, Burgess Partnership, Architects; Gerald Hyett, The Ivor Russell Partnership, Quantity Surveyors; ACT Theatre Consultants; Martin Price Associates.

Oriel Davies Gallery occupies a fine building in the centre of Newtown. Designed by the firm of Alex Gordon, it was one of the best sixties buildings in Wales and owed its origins to a bequest from the Davies Charities, a legacy of the remarkable sisters Gwendoline and Margaret Davies.

For some considerable time the building, known as the Davies Memorial Gallery, had housed a visual arts gallery, Oriel 31, the offices of the Powys Association of Voluntary Organisations (PAVO) and the Montgomeryshire County Recreation Association (MCRA). It also provided meeting space for a variety of local groups.

However, with only 500m2 of space the building was too small to house everyone and Oriel 31 had been unable to achieve its full potential as a showcase for contemporary art in Wales. The building was also urgently in need of repair.

Various ambitious solutions to the space problem were proposed over the years. None proved feasible. Our job was to assess these solutions and examine the latest proposal, which was for "a modest expansion of the building" to provide more space for all the users.

It occurred us that instead of making the existing building larger and compromising its integrity at considerable expense, the simplest and most cost effective solution would be for the non-arts users to move out to office space in town so that Oriel 31 could have the whole building to itself. After all, the building was designed largely as a gallery.

This proposal was put to the MCRA, owners of the building, and it was decided to buy Dolerw, a former convent a short walk away. It would offer first class office space and room for meetings. Thus, at a stroke, the most pressing problem of space would be solved. Oriel 31 would have the space it needed and the deficiencies of the building could be attended to.

We identified a number of options to develop the building for Oriel 31's use and came to the conclusion that repair, refurbishment and a small extension presented the best value for money. The north side of the building lacked impact and seemed ideally suited to a small glazed extension which would not compromise the integrity of the building. The extension would house a coffee bar and a small book and craft shop and thus provide the added value the Gallery badly needed.
The quantity surveyor provided an initial estimate of

£1.4m for the whole capital project. The extension itself was estimated at around £117,000 which represented good value considering the benefits it would produce. The Arts Council of Wales agreed to a two phase development and the first phase was opened in January 2003 by Jenny Randerson, the former Culture Minister for Wales. In recognition of the legacy of the Davies sisters the gallery was called Oriel Davies (Oriel being Welsh for gallery).

It is now a vastly improved building and sympathetic to the original design, with first rate exhibition space and an elegant café and shop attached. It is an asset to Mid Wales and the return on investment is immediately apparent.

Phase Two is nearing completion. It will include an enlarged second gallery, a visitor resource area, an education space, improved visitor facilities and landscaping to house public art.

Funders so far are the Gwendoline and Margaret Davies Charities, the Arts Council of Wales, Powys County Council and the Wales Tourist Board.

Completion in 2004