Henry Moore Foundation - Harley Haddow

Introduction

The home of famous British sculptor, Henry Moore, has long been preserved as a space to appreciate his visual arts. Over the last decade the collection and foundation has evolved, thus creating the need to refurb and extend the facilities.

The design was deliberately rooted in modernist theory in order to align with Moore’s style, with significant emphasis placed on the relationships which can be forged between the visitors, sculpture and landscape.

Gallery

Background

The project refurbished and extended buildings on the Henry Moore estate at Perry Green, Hertfordshire, to provide new archive stores for a wide range of objects, from negatives to newspaper cuttings. Works included Elmwood Archive, fully upgraded and extended with five dedicated archive spaces, and Dane Tree House, refurbished to include visitor areas, café, shop, education spaces, offices, and workshop facilities.

Challenges

Strict environmental controls were required, with archive conditions ranging from 6–8°C and 32–35% RH for negatives to 16–18°C and 45–50% RH for paper archives. The design had to maintain tight humidity bands while accommodating internal gains and infiltration. Security across buildings and external sculptures was critical, and the MEP systems had to be integrated sensitively into the historic village setting.

Solutions

Close recirculation HVAC units provided cooling, heating, humidification, and dehumidification to maintain stable archive conditions. A central reversible ground source heat pump serves both buildings, supplying heating, chilled water, potable water, and sprinklers. Passive design measures including high insulation and airtightness reduced energy use. Security included electronic access, CCTV, PIR detection, and remote-operable gates. Architectural and MEP detailing were coordinated to ensure a holistic, low-impact solution.

Project awards

2018 Civic Trust Awards – Regional Finalist

2018 RIBA East – Shortlisted