Leighton House museum and garden reopens to the public following redevelopment

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The Leighton Household Museum in Holland Park, London, has opened to the public adhering to a multi-yr redevelopment.

Owned and operated by the Royal Borough of Kensington and Chelsea, the artwork museum is housed in the former London dwelling of sculptor and artist Frederic Leighton.

First opened to the community as a museum in 1929, the developing was developed by architect George Aitchison as Leighton’s house and studio and is well-known for its opulent orientalist and aesthetic interiors.

As a museum, Leighton Dwelling holds a unique collection of paintings, sculpture, images, drawings and furnishings relating to the existence of the artist.

The building’s £8m redevelopment was led by architects BDP and focused on the 20th-century additions produced in a new wing at the east conclude of the primary property.

The challenge has revealed original historic options and designed new exhibition areas and displays.

The museum’s De Morgan café now opens onto the redesigned back garden, there is a new Understanding Centre and a collections retailer. Full stage-free of charge entry is now provided across the building for the pretty first time.

Will work also integrated the recovery and restoration of pieces of Leighton’s residence, which experienced formerly been lost in alterations manufactured in the 20th century.

Leighton’s Wintertime Studio – an extension built at the finish of the 1880s to make it possible for the artist to perform via the winter months – is now entirely restored and integrated into the rest of the historic dwelling interiors.

The Entrance Corridor has also been reinstated as it was in Leighton’s day, showcasing a massive portray from the workshop of Domenico Tintoretto, which fashioned section of Leighton’s unique collection.

A separate entrance to the house, specially utilised by Leighton’s styles, is also unveiled.

David Artis, Architect Director at BDP, stated: “This project will have a transformative influence on the museum, enabling it to be obtainable to all for the first time, and supply great visitor and collection care services.

“This refurbishment supports the museum’s ambitions to safeguard and maintain the integrity of the initial house when conference the wants of new audiences and cementing it as a special asset for the borough.

“Leighton Home is a person of London’s excellent houses and we are quite considerably wanting forward to observing it re-open up to the public at a time when these types of locations are essential extra than at any time.”

Leighton Home reopened its doors to people in tandem with its sister museum, Sambourne Property – a almost unaltered Victorian terraced house close by that delivers a window into the art and culture of the period.