This international competition from 1995 was for a new art gallery in Walsall, England, to house the permanent Garman Ryan Collection, and provide a variety of interactive exhibition and studio spaces, artists' studios, a conference suite, restaurant, and other retail uses. The project's aims were:
- to arrive at an elaborate and multi-layered architectural form arising from the potential richness inherent in the programme
- to create a civic space for the town, extending its public realm
- to provide a unique place and identity for the Garman Ryan collection
- to propose a new facility which would, through its design and arrangement, offer an open invitation to the public to participate in all aspects of artistic endeavour and production.
The proposal makes a new courtyard space contained by the gallery on three sides and by the canal basin to gallery, and will be highly visible from the street or from the canal basin. It can be used for a large range of activities, including performance, installation, sculpture and recreation. The foyer - the main introductory space to the gallery - is conceived of as being visually open, interactive and accessible.
The Garman Ryan Collection, because of its significance and particular role in the new Walsall Gallery, is to be located in a special building of appropriate architectural presence. In urban design terms this building is seen as a special object which will be visible from other parts of the town, having the potential to become the symbol for both the collection and the gallery. This project was shortlisted for the second stage of the competition.
This international competition from 1995 was for a new art gallery in Walsall, England, to house the permanent Garman Ryan Collection, and provide a variety of interactive exhibition and studio spaces, artists' studios, a conference suite, restaurant, and other retail uses. The project's aims were: 
The proposal makes a new courtyard space contained by the gallery on three sides and by the canal basin to gallery, and will be highly visible from the street or from the canal basin. It can be used for a large range of activities, including performance, installation, sculpture and recreation. The foyer - the main introductory space to the gallery - is conceived of as being visually open, interactive and accessible.
The Garman Ryan Collection, because of its significance and particular role in the new Walsall Gallery, is to be located in a special building of appropriate architectural presence. In urban design terms this building is seen as a special object which will be visible from other parts of the town, having the potential to become the symbol for both the collection and the gallery. This project was shortlisted for the second stage of the competition.