A full-scale conservation and restoration of the front facade of the Wallace Collection, including repairs to the Portico, stonework and the restoration of existing features and elements.

Purcell are appointed to the Wallace Collection as Retained Architects to undertake contracts improving the galleries and delivering phased repairs to the Grade II* listed building. This has involved a £3m refurbishment of the Great Gallery, completed in 2015 as part of a phased masterplan and involving the refurbishment of a new roof form and ceiling design with careful and sensitive integration of new MEP systems.
The gallery had been subject to many alterations since the 19th century, the boldest being the introduction of air conditioning in the 1970s, which blocked out natural light. Its arrangement became dominated by large air grilles with artificial lighting. Our brief was to reconfigure the environmental control while reducing its visual impact, re-introduce conservation controlled natural daylighting and achieve museum conservation standards in a space restored to its former glory.