“Free public art gallery” that’s what Goldsmiths CCA is. Goldsmiths Centre for Contemporary Art welcomes you. It brings world-class exhibitions to south London.
Goldsmiths CCA stands at the heart of Goldsmiths, University of London’s campus. This is in New Cross. The gallery builds on Goldsmiths’ world-renowned reputation for art practice. It provides an inspiring source of creativity and debate. This is for the public, students, and artists alike.
Led by Director Sarah McCrory, Goldsmiths CCA hosts international artists. Projects and residencies take place here. You can also find talks, performances, and films. These events relate to the wider exhibition program. It is open to everyone.
The Goldsmiths CCA is housed in the Grade II-listed former Laurie Grove Baths. The building has played an important role locally for more than 100 years.
After opening in 1898, the building had a varied existence. It was a place for local people to bathe. They could also learn to swim. It became a dancehall. It also served as a venue for gigs, wrestling, and community events.
The swimming pool closed in 1991. Goldsmiths purchased the building in 1999. The pools were converted into studio space. This was for students in the Department of Art, alongside offices and learning spaces.
In 2014, the College announced an ambitious project. It would convert the spaces housing the water tanks and slipper baths into a world-leading art gallery.
Architecture collective Assemble oversaw the renovation of the new space. They even won the Turner Prize in 2015. The Guardian praised Goldsmiths CCA as brave, anarchic, and inventive. Goldsmiths CCA is 1000m2 in total. It has 700m2 of exhibition space across eight distinct galleries. There is even a rooftop gallery. It’s in the former cast-iron tanks that supplied the swimming pools.
The £4.6 million project to transform the building was made possible. Alumni like Damien Hirst and Sarah Lucas helped. Sir Anthony Gormley and Bridget Riley were also supporters.
Assemble was commissioned by Goldsmiths, University of London. They created a new public art center. It transformed the former industrial spaces of the Grade II listed Laurie Grove Baths. The design opens up hidden spaces of South London’s social history. It brings public life back to the building. Goldsmiths Centre for Contemporary Art is a significant cultural resource. It serves students, artists, and the wider public. It offers a diverse program focused on exhibitions, events, and education.
Assemble’s architectural approach amplifies the building’s history. It offers very diverse rooms for display. They have contrasting qualities of light. The proportions vary. The levels of finish differ. They also have a range of environmental qualities.
A double-height project space forms the social heart of the gallery. It creates a hall for installations and performances. This space connects all floors. It gives a visual porosity to the building. The Bath’s cast iron water tanks have been preserved. One has a new roof and high-level glazing. The other had its roof removed to form an external sculpture terrace. Two new toplit ‘white cube’ galleries have been inserted at first-floor level. They perch on top of the raw masonry fabric of the existing building. This provides a spatial contrast to the historic service spaces.
Goldsmiths CCA combines utilitarian construction materials with handmade elements. This maximizes a tight budget. It creates a hybrid character that feels tactile and approachable. Assemble created bespoke architectural elements for Goldsmiths CCA. These elements combine industrial materials with a hands-on approach. The new clerestory and lantern galleries are clad in a turquoise stained concrete facade. This echoes the ceramic tiles in the Victorian baths. Assemble re-articulated corrugated cement board to develop this cladding.
The timber paneling in the cast iron tanks is dyed deep indigo. It is dyed from a ‘home-brew’ iron acetate stain. Handmade concrete and ceramic architectural elements add to the tactile quality. All gallery spaces are naturally ventilated. Goldsmiths CCA opened on 8 September 2018. The opening exhibition was by Mika Rottenberg.