Kettle's Yard

Kettle's Yard

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Kettle’s Yard is an art gallery set within four converted Grade II listed cottages and a substantial 1970s extension in the heart of Cambridge. The gallery sits between Northampton Street and St Peter’s Church, to the west of Castle Street.

Despite being a popular tourist attraction, with approximately 85,000 people visiting each year, the gallery was beginning to fall below modern standards due to its inflexible layout and poor condition following a series of piecemeal extensions.

Thus, SDC was appointed to carry out large-scale alterations to improve the layout of Kettle’s Yard and enhance the support services for visitors. Work at Kettle’s Yard commenced in September 2015 and saw completion with a public opening on 10th February 2018.

  • 'Visitors who knew the gallery before this development are constantly amazed at what has been achieved in quite a modest space. The new entrance area and shop connect the new parts back with the original house and create a much more welcoming starting point for a visit’

    Andrew Nairne, Director at Kettle's Yard

The work involved the substantial demolition of 4-8 Castle Street and its replacement with a four-floor education wing, improved exhibition galleries, a new entrance and a café – all set behind a retained façade. The demolished structures were replaced by an in-situ concrete framed building, spanning from basement to second floor level, and the retained cottages were completely remodelled.

The project, procured on a design and build route, cost £11 million partly donated from the Heritage Lottery Fund and Arts Council England.

The team involved, Architect: Jamie Fobert, Project Manager: 3PM, Quantity Surveyors: Edmond Shipway and Structural Engineers: Elliot Wood Partnership.

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