The downland gridshell has provided the weald and downland open air museum with a more valuable building than the original brief of a workshop and. The first double layer timber gridshell in the uk has recently been constructed as part of a new building for the weald and downland open air museum in west sussex. Inside the weald and downland gridshell hugh chevallier. Weald and downland museum practically unique and hugely enjoyable. Design and construction of the downland gridshell request pdf. In the example of the weald and downland museum gridshell, the nondeformed, horizontally assembled, lattice structure was elevated at a higher level. This lottery funded project within the grade ii registered park and an open air museum, comprise deconstruction, landscaping and newbuild construction to provide a new forecourt and main entrance, and orientation and interpretation gallery, retail and catering facilities, and an annex for use for community events. Its an open invitation to imaginative couples to break the rules and try something different. An innovative, low energy structure, the building was the first timber gridshell built in britain. It recently featured in the bbc 2 series the tudor monastery farm. Weald and downland open air museum in sussex where the buildings and artefacts of traditional rural life are brought to life. Thank you very much for showing an interest in volunteering at the weald and downland living museum. The museums awardwinning downland gridshell building was the first timber gridshell building to be constructed in.
Key themes, people and exhibits in the museum include. Inside the weald and downland gridshell this awardwinning environmentfriendly building in the weald and downland openair museum is made from a lattice of oak. The form was created from a flat lattice of green oak that was lowered into a threedimensional shape with the use of gravity. Chichester is a welcoming city well known for its great selection of bars. The weald and downland living museum formerly known as the weald and downland open air museum until january 2017 is an open air museum in singleton, west sussex. A gridshell is a structure that derives its strength from its double curvature. The inventive design and construction of the downland gridshell a complex. The downland gridshell is an innovative modern timber gridshell structure intended to become. The inventive design and construction of the downland.
In the large open space of the upper level, the museums carpenters can work on historic timber frames. Artur images the downland gridshell weald and downland. This open air museum tells the story of the women, men and children who lived in these buildings over a 600 year old period. More recent timber gridshells have used a design which features steel plates between the layers. The downland gridshell weald and downland open air museum by dennis gilbert in chichester, west sussex, united kingdom. Weald and downland open air museum the wedding secret. It is also an ideal space for educational activities and events. In the example of the weald and downland museum gridshell, the nondeformed, horizontally assembled, lattice structure was elevated at a higher level, left to gravity and further weighted at the. The downlands gridshell structure picture of weald. The building was completed in 2002 and is used to store the muse the downland gridshell at the. View admission for weald and downland living museum online. Agriculture, domestic life, trades, industries and transport are all represented, and there is a special emphasis on building construction and the building trade.
Weald and downland open air museum chichester tourism. Downland gridshell an innovation in timber design request pdf. The downland gridshell building as it has come to be known was the first major timber gridshell to be built in britain and was commissioned by the weald and downland open air museum in west sussex. Before constructing the gridshell, members of buro happold and the cullinan practicebuilt a prototype during their own time on weekends. In the large open space of the upper level, the museum s carpenters can work on historic timber frames. Town lane, singleton, chichester po18 0eu, england. The weald and downland gridshell institution of civil engineers. We are an independent museum, we rescue and conserve historic buildings, we teach traditional trades and crafts to ensure their preservation and we share the untold stories of rural life and those who lived it in the south east of england simon wardell, museum director. Weald and downland open air museum limited officers free. Before constructing the gridshell, members of buro.
I would describe it as essentially a large collection of buildings that have been transplanted from their original sites and put here to show visitors what life was like in england over the course of a 950year period. Digitickets is the official online seller for weald and downland living museum tickets and we can save you both time and money when buying in advance online. Michael dickson and richard harris of buro happold explain a unique engineering accomplishment and the construction processes behind it. Weald and downland open air museum sewing at damgate. It covers a 40acre site and has fifty exhibit buildings.
Buy admission online weald and downland living museum. The museum is a registered charity the museum covers 40 acres 16 ha, with over 50 historic buildings dating from 950ad to the 19th century, along with gardens, farm animals, walks and a mill pond. The weald and downland gridshell was constructed in 2000 2002. The building is a structural wooden gridshell, constructed of oak sourced from normandy. Download scientific diagram examples of gridshells.
The weald and downland gridshell, is a timber gridshell structure constructed of green oak, using innovative and traditional building techniques. Find all you need to know about weald and downland open air museum in. Really i want to go back in time, to be this woman dressed in yards of linen and live hand to mouth from the garden. Our printing service continues to operate as usual, with framed and unframed prints available for delivery in normal timescales. The museum is also wellknown now for its wonderful gridshell building, which was runnerup for architectures stirling prize in 2002. Calculate your route to and from weald and downland open air museum, choose your restaurant or accomodation next to weald and downland open air museum and check the online map of on viamichelin. It also has a collection of agricultural tools covering the same period housed in the undercroft of the.
Chichester is home to weald and downland open air museum. Designed to host a collection of 15 th to 19 th century buildings, the gridshell contributes to the wider weald and downland living museum experience while providing an insight into the history of. There are 50 acres to explore, with 50 exhibit buildings, which have been furnished to represent the historic interiors of homes from years gone by. The downland gridshell is both a workshop for conservation, restoration and training, and also an archive store for tools and artefacts spanning six centuries. Ollie kelly, richard harris, michael dickson, james rowe summary the first double layer timber gridshell in the uk has recently been constructed as part of a new building for the weald and downland open air museum in sussex. The building was completed in 2002 and is used to store the muse cf4tbb from alamys library of millions of high resolution stock photos, illustrations and vectors. Downland gridshell weald and downland living museum. The weald and downland open air museum was launched in 1967 by a small group of enthusiasts led by the museums founder, the late dr. Weald and downland gridshell green oak carpentry company. There is a cafe, and there are walks in the woods to the south of the site. This is the case of the weald and downland open air museum gridshell in 2002 8 by.
The museum covers 40 acres 16 ha, with over 50 historic buildings dating from 950ad to the 19th century, along with gardens, farm animals, walks. The weald and downland gridshell institution of civil. Downland gridshell, weald and download open air museum. Its made from a grid or lattice and looks similar to garden trellis. Enjoy rescued rural buildings, set in 40 acres of the south downs. Gift aid includes a voluntary donation to the museum, which enables us to claim an extra 25% from the government on the. The weald and downland gridshell 2002 is a building designed by buro happold and edward cullinan architects for the weald and downland open air museum. If youd like to find things to do in the area, you might want to stop in and see goodwood racecourse and goodwood house. Weald and downland open air museum enjoys a beautifullymaintained and peaceful rustic setting with lots to see and lots to do, meaning youll have a jampacked and unforgettable day. The weald and downland gridshell is a building at the weald and downland living museum in west sussex an openair centre devoted to the history of farming and other rural industries. The weald and downland is such a wonderful museum and is well worth a detour if youre ever in the sussex area.
Located in the south downs national park, weald and downland museum is an attractive tourist center where you can chill out on any day and enjoy the tales of people who once habited south east england and be sure to have fun with. The weald and downland living museum is an openair museum in singleton, west sussex. Given the circumstances surrounding covid19, we are temporarily suspending our volunteer interviews as a preventative measure to safeguard the wellbeing of our staff, volunteers and visitors. The gridshell is a cross between an oak barn and a giant armadillo. Completed in 2002 it was and still is quite unique. It houses a collection of over 50 buildings, from the middle ages to the nineteenth century, rescued from all over the southeast of england.