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Leamington architects opening art gallery alongside studio in latest move

A chartered architects practice based in Leamington Spa is set to shake-up the high street with its latest move - by hosting a fine art gallery alongside the architects studio.

Rickett Architects is set to move into Regent Court, 2 Livery Street – the former home of fashion store Jaeger – from its current offices at 168 Parade in the town centre.

The firm, which designs high density and affordable housing schemes, residential and care home buildings for clients all over the country, wanted to increase its presence in Leamington by moving into a ground-floor high street location.

But the move into the 1,944 sq ft unit on Regent Court is not just a simple office move. The bulk of the space will be dedicated to displaying and selling contemporary art from a range of regional and international artists in a concept Rickett Architects calls ‘Pavilion’.

Dan Rickett, Managing Director of Rickett Architects, said: “Through Pavilion, we wanted to bring the architects studio to ground level to improve our visibility, in addition to sharing the cost of space with complimentary uses to support our hybrid working policies.

“We are working with Gallery Director Kelly Childs who brings industry knowledge and unbridled enthusiasm for the project and knows a lot of up-and-coming artists through her work. It was through speaking to her that the idea for a combined space took hold.”

Dan saw that Leamington commercial agents Wareing & Company were marketing the old Jaeger unit at Regent Court and thought the space could be perfect for the new venture.

“We want to use around three-quarters of it for the art gallery, and the rest for our architect’s studio,” he added.

“The idea is that the customer sees the fine art gallery first and this brings them in – and it’s also something that our clients can enjoy when they come to visit us in the studio.

“We’re also keen to make sure the art is at a good range of prices and supports local artists rather than focusing on exclusivity and prestige.

“Ultimately, we wanted to try a new model of getting an architectural business to viably have a presence on a high street. If successful, we will look to try and roll it out to other locations, with Pavilion being the anchor concept.

“We must thank Wareing & Company for their support too. They were very professional to deal with and made the process of securing the lease as smooth as it could have been. We can’t wait to move in.”

Bill Wareing, owner of Wareing and Company, said: “It’s great to see Rickett Architects trying something bold on the high street and combining office space with a different venture.

“Regent Court, 2 Livery Street is in a fantastic location in Leamington with plenty of footfall, so they won’t be short of people admiring the art on display.

“We wish Dan and the team all the best with the move and look forward to viewing the artwork ourselves.”

This was posted in Bdaily's Members' News section by Matt Joyce .