Construction has begun on eight special buildings designed by Heatherwick Studio for Aberystwyth Arts Centre, a department of Aberystwyth University. Heatherwick Studio is one of the UK’s foremost design practices with completed projects including the world flagship store for French luxury brand Longchamp in New York, Rolling Bridge in London and the award winning East Beach Café in Littlehampton.

Each building will comprise two Creative Arts Business Units offering affordable office and workshop space to arts enterprises and artists in the local area. The development has been made possible by generous support from the Arts Council of Wales Lottery Fund, the Welsh Assembly Government and Aberystwyth University.

Formed from simple timber frames with a unique stainless steel cladding, the buildings are spread amongst a wooded site at Aberystwyth University campus. Heatherwick Studio Construction, the building arm of the design practice, has been awarded the contract to deliver the scheme. Ground works are being undertaken by E Ll Hughes & Son from Aberystwyth and prefabricated structures by Lowfield Timber Frames of Welshpool.

The scheme is already attracting interest from creative organisations keen to take advantage of a unique workspace so close to a thriving arts centre and it is hoped these buildings will add considerable momentum to the creative and cultural cluster developing in Aberystwyth. Those companies who have already expressed a wish to use the units include Honno Books, and Creu Cymru, the National Development Agency for Theatres and Arts Centres in Wales.

Three of the units will be used for the Arts Centre’s Artists in Residence Scheme, a major new initiative which will annually offer 12 visual and applied artists the opportunity to develop their work during three-month long residencies.