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mima wins 2009 Hadrian Award

4th December 2009

Type: News

Categories: Love Middlesbrough News

mima interior Middlesbrough’s art gallery mima and adjacent Centre Square have been hailed among the region’s very best in architecture and building design.

The gallery and square were crowned with a Hadrian Award at a ceremony in Newcastle.

The Hadrian Awards celebrate the best in architecture and the design of the built environment in the North East and Cumbria and are held every two years.

They honour a building’s functionality and fulfilment of the brief as well as visual qualities.

A scheme must have been open for at least a year before it can be submitted.

From an original line up of 50 entries mima was one of six to triumph.

From the citation

The citation read: “Middlesbrough Institute of Modern Art and the Public Square development has successfully transformed the former, disparate space into a vibrant public space in the heart of Middlesbrough.

“The Gallery itself provides a venue in which Middlesbrough Council can display its own collection of contemporary art, and provide a home for touring exhibitions of the highest quality.

“The building is of contemporary design, and has already attracted significant praise for its architectural design.

“The building provides a stunning backdrop to the new Public Square which in itself has provided a venue for a range of activities including the BBC’s “Proms in the Park” concert.”

About mima

mima opened in January 2007 and was designed by Eric Van Egeraat architects. It hosts exhibits of fine art and craft from 1900 to present.

Centre Square is one of Europe’s largest civic spaces and is now a key area in the town for hosting cultural and innovative public events, including at the moment the Middlesbrough Big Wheel.

Councillor Dave Budd, Executive Member for Regeneration and Economic Development, said: “The fact that the Hadrian Awards recognise functionality as well as architecture and design illustrates how successful the development of mima and Centre Square has been.

“mima and Centre Square have become an integral part of the town and are a symbol of how it continues to move forward.”

Kate Brindley, Director of Museums and Galleries at Middlesbrough Council, said: “It’s a huge honour for mima to win a Hadrian Award.

“A key ingredient to mima’s success is it not only that it looks stunning and has wonderful exhibition spaces but it is also a welcoming, easily accessible and functional building.”

About the Hadrian Awards

The Hadrian Awards are organised by the Royal Institute of British Architects North East, Northern Architecture, the North of England Civic Trust and the Landscape Institute North East Branch.

Director of Northern Architecture, Carol Botten said: “The Hadrian Awards celebrate architecture and design but it goes beyond the aesthetic value of a building.

“So that we can assess factors such as how well the brief has been met and if the structure complements its environment, schemes must have been in full use for a year.

“Spaces should be functional and fit for purpose so we also like to assess how users of the buildings feel about them.”

Other winners of the award this year were Tyneside Cinema, Newcastle, Kielder Observatory, Northumberland, Cardinal Hume Catholic School, Gateshead, the Lakeside Centre, Killingworth and The Place, Sunderland.

Download: mima Winter Brochure

mima Winter Brochure

Featuring One place to call home: Recent acquisitions, Ellsworth Kelly: Drawings 1954-1962, William Furlong: a red couch, a blue curtain, a black piece of furniture, Karl Fritsch: persuasive proposals, the Winter Events Programme plus a sneak peak at Spring.