Sheep Field Barn Gallery Henry Moore Studios, Hertfordshire gardens building design by DSDHA

Sheep Field Barn Gallery Henry Moore Studios & Gardens, UK

6 November 2025

The Sheep Field Barn at Henry Moore Studios & Gardens to re-open in April 2026 following major redevelopment

Location: Dane Tree House, Perry Green, Much Hadham, Hertfordshire, England, United Kingdom

image © DSDHA

Architects: DSDHA

The Sheep Field Barn at Henry Moore Studios & Gardens Re-opening

The Sheep Field Barn at Henry Moore Studios & Gardens will re-open on 1 April 2026 following a major redevelopment by leading architecture and urban design practice DSDHA. The reimagined space, at the heart of Moore’s former home and work-place in Hertfordshire reflects the artist’s lifelong passion for art education.

For the first time, the renovated gallery will feature a dedicated presentation covering the remarkable story of Henry Moore’s life and work, celebrating his status as one of Britain’s greatest sculptors and most internationally influential artists. The presentation will draw on the Foundation’s exceptional holding of work by Moore as well as its unrivalled archive which places the artist as a key figure of the 20th century. A changing exhibition programme will run alongside, launching with an important display of Moore’s world renowned Shelter Drawings.

A new extension to the building provides state-of-the-art studios and learning facilities, supporting a dynamic programme of drop-in activities, creative events, talks, and tours for audiences of all ages. This transformation will enable the Henry Moore Foundation to further deliver on Moore’s ambition to inspire future generations of art lovers, in an engaging, accessible environment.

Godfrey Worsdale OBE, Director of the Henry Moore Foundation, said: “The redevelopment of the Sheep Field Barn will enable us to comprehensively introduce the artist’s life and work as never before. Drawing on our unrivalled collections and archives, the new facility will reveal all aspects of Moore’s creative journey through exceptional and rarely seen examples of his work. This will greatly enhance our visitors’ experience of the artist’s house, his remarkable studios and the grounds amongst many of his monumental bronze sculptures. The new facility also frames Moore’s practice in his life-long commitment to the study of sculpture and his enthusiasm for others to learn about and engage with the subject. New dedicated learning spaces will enable visitors to enjoy a richer and more hands-on experience of a remarkable artist’s legacy in an inclusive and welcoming environment.”

image © DSDHA

ARCHITECTURAL TRANSFORMATION

Originally a steel-frame farm building used for storage by Moore and later adapted by Hawkins\Brown in 1999, the barn has now been significantly transformed through a major extension designed by DSDHA and built by Rooff, doubling its footprint and reimagining its role as a space for creativity and learning. The project introduces a wet and dry studio for making, filled with natural light through central roof lights, a lunchroom for schools and groups, a larger entrance and new mezzanine as well as upgraded exhibition spaces, accessible WCs and social areas. The lunchroom and two studios have direct outdoor access, connecting visitors to the surrounding landscape, with sheep trough sinks to aid outdoor making – just as Moore did. Built entirely from a solid timber structure that sits lightly on steel screw piles and clad externally with reclaimed Silver Spruce Timber and internally by the building’s own repurposed panels, returned to their natural Douglas Fir finish, the extension combines sustainability with craft. Sheep’s wool insulation, triple-glazed windows, and an airtight envelope enhance energy efficiency, while an innovative roof of integrated solar panels generates power for the spaces, supported by ground source heat pumps to regulate the conditions of the gallery’s exhibition spaces.

Deborah Saunt, Founding Director at DSDHA, said: “We are extremely proud to have delivered the retrofit of Sheep Field Barn at Henry Moore Studios & Gardens, creating sustainable and energy-efficient galleries that, for the first time, can display the full range of Moore’s artistic processes and output on site. Highly flexible learning facilities uniquely engage with the surrounding landscape whilst spaces throughout the scheme pay homage to Moore’s approach to his own work and understanding of art in the wider world. Henry Moore Studios & Gardens is an inspiring cultural destination to work within, and we hope our remodelling of Sheep Field Barn will continue to support the Foundation’s aspirations to make the work and home of Henry Moore accessible and open to new audiences, whilst also demonstrating the potential of retrofit to push the limits of sustainable and low-carbon design and material circularity.”

GALLERY SPACES

The Sheep Field Barn renovation will provide an improved suite of exhibition galleries, including a larger, double height space on the ground floor, suitable for the display of medium and large-scale works. This space will house the first ever dedicated permanent exhibition on the life and work of Henry Moore at the Studios & Gardens, celebrating his status as one of the most important artists of the 20th century.

This permanent exhibition will tell the complete story of Moore’s life and career from 1922 to 1984 through sculptures from the Henry Moore Foundation Collection, including wood and stone carvings, bronzes and plasters, highlighting the evolution of his visual style, artistic themes and experimentations in height, scale and relationships of form. This selection will be accompanied by reproduced archive materials such as photographs, correspondence, diaries, videos and studio materials, bringing context to the artworks. The presentation will explore Moore’s deep engagement with nature, organic forms, and international influences, as well as his global impact. Key works include early carvings such as Mother and Child c.1922-24 and Seated Figure 1924, recent acquisitions Chairback Reliefs c.1928 and Madonna and Child (1943); and maquettes and models for major international sculpture commissions including those for the Festival of Britain (1951), UNESCO Paris (1957–58), and the National Gallery of Art, Washington D.C. (1976). Many of the works will be shown at Studios & Gardens for the first time, including Reclining Figure: Circle (1983), one of Moore’s final sculptures.

The upstairs gallery has also been renovated and will host a programme of changing displays exploring a specific aspect of Moore’s art and his long-lasting legacy. The first exhibition will focus on Moore’s Shelter Drawings, some of his most powerful and celebrated works, created during the Second World War, commissioned by the War Artists Advisory Committee. Showing Londoners sheltering in the London Underground during the Blitz (1940–1941), these were among the first works that Moore made after he moved to Perry Green from the capital. The deeply moving scenes witnessed by Moore of people huddled together in cramped tunnels inspired a series of drawings that are both despairing and intensely human, combining vulnerability and resilience. This will be the first exhibition devoted entirely to this landmark series of works since 1998 (Henry Moore: Shelter Drawings and Sculpture, Imperial War Museum, London).

image © DSDHA

LEARNING STUDIOS

The Henry Moore Foundation’s new purpose-built Learning Studios offer visitors the opportunity to learn, think, and make together. For the first time, working studio spaces will sit on the same site as Moore’s own, equipped with tools and resources to place making back at the heart of the site. These spaces aim to encourage creative experimentation and foster an exchange of skills and ideas among newcomers, enthusiasts, and experts. Regular activities will include family play sessions, sensory sculpting, education programmes, workshops for all ages, community events, residencies, co-creation projects, and expert talks linking new research on Moore to contemporary issues.

The two purpose-built studio spaces will replace the single classroom-style area previously available to education groups. Unlike the old space, the new studios include dedicated lunch areas and improved facilities for wet and messy activities, making them more practical and versatile for hands-on learning. With expansive windows, abundant natural light, and access to their own outside spaces, the studios will create a direct connection to the landscape and sculptures that inspired Henry Moore, enriching the creative experience for all who use them.

On arrival at the Sheep Field Barn, visitors will also encounter a smaller gallery before the main exhibition, designed as a reflective pause point featuring tactile objects, audiovisual experiences, sculptural play, and comfortable furnishings. Created in collaboration with designer and maker Charlotte Kidger, this inclusive and engaging space will be shaped through co-production with audiences, including adult and family visitors and teenage students from nearby Harlow (the UK’s only sculpture town).

The Sheep Field Barn is set within 70 acres of surrounding grounds at Henry Moore Studios & Gardens, also home to a large selection of Moore’s renowned monumental sculptures situated in the landscape in which they were created, as a well as many of Moore’s studios, his family home Hoglands and the Henry Moore Archive, one of the largest single-artist archives in the world. The re-opening of the Sheep Field Barn will coincide with Henry Moore: Monumental Nature at Kew Gardens, the largest outdoor exhibition of Moore’s work ever presented.

ACCESS

Henry Moore Studios & Gardens
Dane Tree House, Perry Green, Much Hadham
Wednesday 1 April to Sunday 1 November 2026
Open Wednesdays to Sundays and Bank Holidays, 11:00–17:00
Annual admission: Adult £19.50 / Child £9.00 / Family from £32.00 / Universal Credit £1
One ticket, twelve months, unlimited visits.
Find out more at henry-moore.org/studios-and-gardens

Previously on e-architect:

2 October 2023

Henry Moore Foundation Receives Planning Permission for Redevelopment Project at Henry Moore Studios & Gardens

Location: Henry Moore Studios & Gardens, Dane Tree House, Perry Green, Much Hadham, Hertfordshire, southeast England, UK

image © DSDHA

Design: DSDHA

Sheep Field Barn Gallery – Henry Moore Foundation Planning Permission

The Henry Moore Foundation, in collaboration with leading architects DSDHA, is delighted to announce the approval of planning permission for an exciting project that will transform the Sheep Field Barn Gallery, at Henry Moore Studios & Gardens in Hertfordshire, into a dedicated learning and exhibition space for all visitors. This redevelopment project marks a significant milestone in the Foundation’s commitment to visitor engagement and education.

Henry Moore, the renowned sculptor, was a strong advocate for education and established the Foundation with the purpose of inspiring enthusiasm for the fine arts. Over the years, the Foundation’s education programme has flourished, welcoming more than 2,000 school children annually and offering a diverse range of drop-in workshops, educational talks, and tours for people of all ages. The Sheep Field Barn, situated at the heart of the estate, has been identified as the ideal building for adaptation and extension to facilitate enhanced visitor engagement and learning activities.

The vision for the project is to create a state-of-the-art facility that will support a comprehensive engagement programme catering to diverse audiences, including school and community groups, students, academics, life-long learners and visitors generally. The modernised gallery spaces will include a public exhibition of the life and work of Henry Moore at the Studios & Gardens that will be an integral part of the visitor experience.

The design also incorporates two state-of-the-art education spaces, offering cutting-edge facilities for immersive learning experiences. DSDHA’s proposal will create a simple, unified building which retains the structure and most of its envelope, extending and overcladding the existing steel frame barn. The extension will provide captivating views of the sheep fields beyond the barn, complementing the tranquil character of Henry Moore Studios & Gardens. Furthermore, the project aligns with the Foundation’s commitment to sustainability by contributing to its aspiration of becoming carbon net-zero.

Upgrading the thermal performance of the barn and constructing the new extension from a timber frame is central to the design team’s commitment to sustainability and builds on Moore’s frugal approach to the structures already on-site. The timber frame will be supported on lightweight screw piles, avoiding the need for concrete foundations and therefore helping to reduce embodied carbon. The internal timber structure will be predominantly exposed, celebrating the structure’s simplicity and limiting the need for unnecessary lining materials, while the external façade will be either responsibly sourced or repurposed timber, robustly insulated to reduce the building’s operational carbon.

“We are thrilled to have received planning permission for the architectural redevelopment of the Sheep Field Barn Gallery,” said Lesley Wake, Chief Operating Officer at the Henry Moore Foundation. “This project represents a significant step in our ongoing mission to deepen our engagement with sculpture and the arts, inspired by Henry Moore’s passion for education. The transformed learning and exhibition space will enable us to engage with a wider audience and provide state-of-the-art facilities to facilitate a diverse range of educational and participatory activities. We are grateful to DSDHA for their expertise and partnership throughout this process.”

Deborah Saunt, Founding Director at DSDHA. “Our approved designs for the redevelopment of the Sheep Field Barn at Henry Moore Studios & Gardens will see the retrofit and upgrade of the existing gallery extended with a new learning and interpretation centre. The design has been developed in close collaboration with the client and engagement team to be an inclusive and welcoming environment for all visitors – celebrating the building’s relationship, and offering a choreographed sequence of important views, to the sculptures of Henry Moore and the verdant landscape in which they sit.”

With planning permission secured, the Henry Moore Foundation and DSDHA are eager to commence work on this transformative project with building work set to commence in spring 2024.

Contractors can express their interest to Stockdale LLP on office(at)stockdaleuk.com

Previously on e-architect:

11 October 2022

DSDHA wins architectural competition at Henry Moore Studios & Gardens, Hertfordshire

External visualisation:

images courtesy of architects practice

Design: DSDHA

Sheep Field Barn Gallery – Henry Moore Foundation Competition Winner

Henry Moore Foundation is delighted to announce that leading architecture and urban design practice DSDHA has been appointed to conduct the architectural redevelopment of a dedicated learning and exhibition space at Henry Moore Studios & Gardens, the former Hertfordshire home of sculptor Henry Moore. DSDHA will transform the existing Sheep Field Barn Gallery into an exciting space for learning and engagement activities as well as modernising the existing display spaces.

Henry Moore was passionate about education and one of his reasons for setting up the Foundation was to continue communicating enthusiasm for sculpture and the arts in general. The Foundation’s education programme has developed substantially over the years: at Henry Moore Studios & Gardens we welcome over 2000 school children per annum and offer a varied programme of drop-in workshops, educational talks and tours for people of all ages. The building that is most suitable to adapt and extend for learning and engagement activities is the Sheep Field Barn, located in the heart of the Moore estate.

The ambition is to develop and add a modest extension to the existing building to provide state-of-the-art facilities to run a wide-ranging engagement programme, from school workshops to academic talks, which would cater for all segments of our audience and provide greater opportunities for engagement. The new space will display Moores work, create two state-of-the-art education spaces, facilitate views of the sheep fields beyond the barn and contribute to the Foundation’s aspiration to become carbon net zero.

Lesley Wake, CEO at Henry Moore Foundation said ‘DSDHA stood out for us at tender because of their sympathetic approach to the environment, their connection to Henry Moore and the ambition of their sustainable approach to our project, combined with their impressive track record.”

Deborah Saunt, Founding Director at DSDHA said “Our redevelopment aims to create an inclusive and welcoming environment that appeals to and nurtures all visitors. Our approach for the barn, inspired by Moore’s ethos of no nonsense frugality, interrogates each design decision through a lens of sustainability at every scale. The design will offer constant views of nature, to anchor and create a considered backdrop to the work, home and studios of Henry Moore and the Foundation today”.

DSDHA is an architecture, urban design and spatial research studio, whose internationally acclaimed work spans from crafting beautiful and sustainable buildings, welcoming landscapes and whole new neighbourhoods. DSDHA aim to foster positive change in the built environment and to empower communities, creating social value through collaboration and meaningful engagement. Recent projects include; National Youth Theatre, Exchange Square, Royal Albert Hall public realm, Edmund de Waal Studio and Gallery and the refurbishment of London’s iconic Economist Plaza in St James.

Having established the Henry Moore Foundation in 1977, Moore gifted the grounds, buildings, and contents of his 70-acre estate in Perry Green, Hertfordshire to the Foundation. The charity continues to conserve and present his work at Henry Moore Studios & Gardens in the setting in which it was created. The Foundation also upholds Moore’s commitment to education and learning and welcomes schools bringing 2,000 students, free of charge, to the Studios & Gardens every year.

With the arrival of a recently appointed Engagement Curator, the Henry Moore Foundation is keen to deepen engagement with visiting schools and other educational groups, special needs education students, young adults and academic groups. These activities are currently limited due to the lack of suitable learning spaces at a time when demand is increasing, and the redevelopment will allow the organisation to better tell the story of one of Britain’s most acclaimed artists in an accessible and engaging way.

DSDHA

DSDHA is an architecture, urban design and spatial research studio, established by Deborah Saunt and David Hills. Known for their high-profile urban strategies, landscapes and innovative buildings, often in complex historic environments, as well as widelyacclaimed research, they have been recognised with 19 RIBA Awards to date, shortlisted for the RIBA Stirling Prize, and twice nominated for the European Union Prize for Contemporary Architecture – Mies van der Rohe Award.

Blurring the boundaries between infrastructure, landscape, architecture and art, their work is the result of extensive dialogue with communities, stakeholders and collaborators to deliver projects that have the broadest impact.

Henry Moore Foundation, England

The Henry Moore Foundation was founded by the artist and his family in 1977 to encourage public appreciation of the visual arts. Today it supports innovative sculpture projects, devises an imaginative programme of exhibitions and research worldwide, and preserves the legacy of Moore himself: one of the great sculptors of the 20th century, who did so much to bring the art form to a wider audience.

DSDHA

Sheep Field Barn Gallery Henry Moore Studios & Gardens, Hertfordshire, images / information received 111022 from DSDHA

Previously on e-architect:

14 February 2022

Location: Hertfordshire, England, UK

Address: Henry Moore Studios & Gardens, Dane Tree House, Perry Green, Much Hadham SG10 6EE

The Henry Moore Foundation launches a competition for architects to reimagine its gallery space in Hertfordshire.

Sheep Field Barn Gallery:

photo : Martin Bond

Sheep Field Barn Gallery – Henry Moore Foundation Competition, Hertfordshire

The Henry Moore Foundation invites architects to submit expressions of interest for the redevelopment of the Sheep Field Barn Gallery at the Henry Moore Studios & Gardens, Hertfordshire to introduce learning and engagement facilities to the gallery and improve the existing display spaces.

Sheep Field Barn, Perry Green 1999:

photo : Dennis Gilbert

Sheep Field Barn, Perry Green 2010:

photo : Jonty Wilde

Sheep Field Barn, Perry Green:

photo : Henry Moore Archive

Sheep Field Barn Gallery Competition Hertfordshire

Henry Moore Studios & Gardens

Installation view of the exhibition Henry Moore: Plasters, Sheep Field Barn, Perry Green 2011

photograph : Jonty Wilde

Installation view of the exhibition Henry Moore: Plasters, Sheep Field Barn, Perry Green, UK, 2011:

photo : Jonty Wilde

Design Competitions

Henry Moore Foundation Competition Hertfordshire images / information received 140222

Phone: 01279 843333

Location: Henry Moore Studios & Gardens, Dane Tree House, Perry Green, Much Hadham, SG10 6EE Hertfordshire, south east England, UK

Architecture in Hertfordshire

Hertfordshire Buildings

Hertfordshire Buildings – selection below:

Criss Cross House
Design: Ashton Porter Architects

photo : Andy Stagg
Criss Cross House

Central Surgery, Sawbridgeworth
Design: Hawkins\Brownt

photo : Jack Hobhouse
Central Surgery Sawbridgeworth

Masterplan For Oaklands College
Design: DLA Architecture

photo courtesy of architects
Oaklands College St Albans masterplan

Hertford Theatre Development
Architects: Bennetts Associates

image courtesy of architects office
Hertford Theatre

Stevenage Bus Interchange Building
Design: Stephen George + Partners (SGP), Architects

picture : Stephen George + Partners
Stevenage Bus Interchange Building