Glyn Y Weddw
Project Name: New Café at Plas Glyn y Weddw
Location: Llanbedrog
Value: £950k
Client: Oriel Glyn y Weddw
Brief: Construction of new bespoke café and catering kitchen at Oriel Plas Glyn y Weddw
Awards RSAW Award 2024, RIBA Client of the Year 2024, and shortlisted for the Stephen Lawrence Prize 2024
'Little Gem' Award at the Royal Fine Art Commission Trust, Building Beauty Awards
Completed in August 2022, this project has been described by the Architects as a sculptural cafe for Wales’ oldest art gallery. Working in collaboration with the renowned metal sculptor Matthew Sanderson, the Architects developed a proposal for a new 80-cover cafe facility at the popular Art Gallery in North West Wales. The existing cafe was located within a modern conservatory which was considered inappropriate and had poor thermal properties.
The form of the new proposed dining area was generated from Matthew’s interest in nature and echoes the shell of a sea urchin. The rain screen facade comprises of 23,000 stainless steel ‘barnacles’ all fabricated and welded by hand into sections which was secured over the water-tight fabric below.
Internally, Matthew designed the principal structural elements of the dining space which rise to a central oculus. To the rear of the dining area is the new kitchen and servery and new toilets, located within the former kitchen to the back of the main house. A circulation route between the new and historic fabric provides level access across the whole ground floor of the Centre and creates a transition between new and old. Planning and listed building consent was granted in January 2020 with the first phase commencing October 2021 completed in August 2022.
This project presented OBR with interesting and challenging new construction methodologies and under the guidance of the original Sculptor and Architects we overcame the fabrication challenges and successfully delivered the project. The economic and political climates experienced during this build presented us with further challenges with regard to material availability and incredibly volatile costs however we remained resilient and committed to complete what is considered to be one of our most innovative and creative projects within this geographical area for some time.
As part of our scope of works, we undertook almost all aspects of construction refurbishment works including demolition, groundworks and reinforced concrete works, new and stonework conservation, cleaning to existing stonework using established historical methods and lime mortar materials; steel erections, mechanical and electrical works, kitchen equipment installations, wall and floor finishes, external surfacing and hard landscaping. Photographic records were taken before the dilapidation / demolition works commenced to record current condition and these areas are monitored throughout the build period by the Architect who generally visits the site on a weekly basis.
The general principles of protecting retained masonry was to disturb as little as possible; do not cut or adjust to accommodate new or reused units; prop or wedge retained loose masonry units and those vulnerable to movement so they could be firmly and correctly repositioned. We were privileged to have the opportunity to successfully deliver this project on behalf of the Client and to add this project to our already varied portfolio. Further details and information on this project can be viewed at https://youtu.be/vVhkK8LiBtU(80,000 barnacles above the sea).
