Gweithdy, St. Fagans National History Museum, Cardiff

Gweithdy celebrates the culture, heritage and skills of Welsh craft in a new gallery, workshop and visitor hub for St Fagans National Museum of History. Translating from the Welsh as ‘made by hand’, Gweithdy provides flexible workshop and demonstration spaces for a huge range of craft, science and archaeology activities and a hands-on exhibition which hosts 500 items from the craft and archaeology collections of the National Museum Wales. A built-in forge under cover of the building canopy is used for metalwork demonstrations and other heavy crafts activities and creates a focal point for this part of the park. Designed to be a good example of environmentally responsible architecture, Gweithdy is integrated into the renewed 19th Century woodland landscape setting through its form and materiality. Situated next to a stepped amphitheatre and at a crossing of paths, the pavilion is a natural destination for visitors, drawing more people further into the Museum Park. Gweithdy also houses a new coffee shop and visitor toilets. RICS Wales Regional Award: Tourism and Leisure Award. (Text by Feilden Clegg Bradley Studios). Client: National Museum Wales Architects: Feilden Clegg Bradley Studios Main Contractor: Kier