A NATIONAL Trust site near Pershore is asking visitors for their views on two proposed designs for a new archive room.
Staff at Croome are appealing for help to decide which of the two designs for the room, which aim to showcase the mansion house’s extensive historic records in an imaginative way, will be chosen as the overall winner.
The designs, by Elena Thatcher, Ruth Hall and Max Jones and PUP Architecture, have been inspired by Lancelot ‘Capability’ Brown, Robert Adam and the 6th Earl of Coventry and will be on display on the first floor of the house this summer, before the winning design is announced in August.
A competition was launched in January calling upon designers to produce a visitor experience at the historic property, as part of Croome’s project to redefine the country house in new and creative ways.
Clare Harris, Croome’s creative producer said: “We’re delighted at the volume and calibre of the emerging designers who applied for the competition.
“It was a fantastic way for us to find so many potential candidates which could help us reinterpret aspects of Croome’s archive in imaginative ways.
“It was hard to whittle down to two teams but we’re all very pleased with the two final proposals we’ve received. Taking on the ethos of the 6th Earl of Coventry, we see this as a great opportunity for the designers to develop their professional skills in an exciting collaboration, amongst the stunning and inspirational surroundings of Croome.”
Croome’s park and lakeside are open from 10am to 5.30pm and Croome Court is open from 11am to 4.30pm every day.
Call the National Trust site on 01905 371006 or visit www.nationaltrust.org.uk/croome for more information.
*THE NATIONAL Trust site is also celebrating after being given a £5,000 grant to build new picnic benches.
Severn Waste Services recently rewarded Croome with the grant through the Landfill Communities Fund, to build new solid oak and picnic benches.
Katherine Alker, Croome’s garden and park manager said: “Thanks to the generous funding from Severn Waste Services we’ve been able to install more benches in the ‘Wild Play’ area near the visitor centre and in the wider parkland.”
