-
Architects: Sutherland Hussey Architects
- Year: 2009
-
Photographs:Courtesy of Sutherland Hussey Architects
Located on the west side of Grizedale Forest, Lawson Park overlooks Coniston Water and across the lake to Coniston village, framed by a backdrop of craggy mountain peaks.
Lawson Park is an historic Cumbrian hill farm, which was established in 1338 by Furness Abbey to supply wool as part of the abbey’s production chain. Since its decline as a working sheep farm in the early 20th Century it has been used for a variety of purposes including a holiday home and a hostel for Liverpool University.
Grizedale Arts have been using the farm since 2000 for hosting artists and projects, but are now developing the whole site as the new headquarters for the organisation. The new buildings will provide residential accommodation and research facilities for artists, curators and Grizedale guests, along with small scale conference facilities, warden’s accommodation and site office.
In addition, an area of approximately 15 acres of surrounding farmland is being developed as a site for experimental land use and arts projects in collaboration with artists, curators, invited groups and local stakeholders.
Artists are invited to work on projects, the principle aim being to generate and disseminate new ideas and approaches to how the land may be used, developing a constructive role for art and artists in a time of immense cultural change, both locally and internationally.
