Hayward Gallery

The Hayward Gallery stands on the South Bank of the River Thames in central London, beside the Royal Festival Hall and the Queen Elizabeth Hall. It is part of the Southbank Centre, a cluster of arts venues that also includes the National Theatre and BFI Southbank. The building was completed in 1968 and designed in the Brutalist style, with bold concrete forms and sharp geometric shapes. Its architects included Norman Engleback, Warren Chalk and Ron Herron, some of whom later formed the Archigram group. The gallery is named after Sir Isaac Hayward, a former leader of the London County Council. The gallery does not keep a permanent collection. Instead it presents three or four major temporary exhibitions each year, often showing contemporary art that responds to the building’s concrete spaces. Past shows have featured artists such as Dan Flavin, Antony Gormley and Leonardo da Vinci. Since 2006 the gallery has been led by directors including Ralph Rugoff and Sally Tallant. It also hosts the Arts Council England National Touring Exhibitions programme, bringing touring shows to venues across the country. Inside, two levels of galleries are linked by concrete staircases and a lift tower that rises through the centre of the building. The upper galleries receive filtered natural light through glass pyramids in their flat roofs. Three outdoor sculpture courts sit at the upper level, though these are usually closed to the public. A remodelled glass foyer and café were added in 2003, designed by Haworth Tompkins, with a glass pavilion by Dan Graham above. The building’s roof terrace and linking bridge are currently closed, but the walkways and staircases still offer strong views of the river and the London skyline.