Providing an extraordinary setting for captivating artwork

LEN LYE CENTRE & GOVETT-BREWSTER ART GALLERY

This is New Zealand’s only dedicated single artist gallery and forms part of a vibrant new art precinct in New Plymouth.

This internationally-acclaimed project is a substantial extension to the Govett-Brewster Art Gallery heritage building, with the finished building introducing flexible gallery spaces, education studios, a cinema and a Len Lye Archive.

Len Lye was one of New Zealand’s foremost artists, and this centre has become a major cultural destination exhibiting his life’s work, providing new art spaces and revitalising the surrounding arts and business community in New Plymouth.

This is a substantial extension to the Govett-Brewster Art Gallery heritage building, with the new finished building introducing flexible gallery spaces serviced to accommodate large kinetic art works, education studios, cinema and the Len Lye Archive. A colonnaded ramp around an inner sanctum of gallery spaces meets up with the adjoining historic theatre building.

The new building’s facade of curved columns clad in polished stainless steel allows full control of light into the gallery, and activates the street with a play of light. The fine workmanship from local industry on the detailed stainless steel façade has elicited international acclaim.

RLB provided full cost management and quantity surveying services.