Visit: Hauser & Wirth, Somerset
Hauser & Wirth, a family business with a global reach, has a gallery and exhibition space on Durslade Farm, Somerset, with landscaped gardens designed by Piet Oudolf – the world-famous landscape designer.
The gallery space hosts contemporary art exhibitions and is centred around conservation, education and sustainability. The architecture itself has been beautifully and respectfully restored from the original derelict farm buildings, and also homes the Roth Bar and Grill.
Beyond the gallery lies a stretch known as ‘Oudolf Field’, a gentle but attention-commanding meadow designed by the Netherlands-based landscape genius for it’s opening in 2014. Curved beds filled predominantly with perennials provide a view filled with height and colour, creating soft yet structural shapes resulting in an effect that seems both natural and thoughtfully curated.
Oudolf is known for his interest in all stages of the plant life cycle, thus his designs celebrate plant form and features all year round. Copies of the original planting plan can be purchased from the gallery reception providing insight into the layout, and for those who want, hours of wandering round identifying plants in the garden-meets-meadow. Visiting in late May 2021, the perennials were reaching their early summer crescendo, with grasses gaining height and foliage creating a general lushness. The late summer and winter experience will of course be totally different, with grasses and seed-heads bronzing or frosted. Head Gardener, Mark Dumbleton, was busy working on the meadow and able to share his intricate knowledge on caring for the space.
At the far end of the field sits a structure known as the Radić Pavilion, designed by architect Smiljan Radić. It’s bold and other-wordly form sits as a contrasting backdrop to the softness of Piet’s planting.
Aside from the meadow, landscape design extends throughout Hauser & Wirth. The small courtyard between the gallery and shop is impactful with multi-stem trees, repeated grasses and blocks of perennials, yet understated with its looseness and casually minimal seating. A glimpse of the planting through the floor-length glass panels in the gallery made the outdoor view a work of art in itself.
On the main lawn, viewable on entering the gates, is an angular pond – currently being enjoyed by several large and impressive sculpture figures (‘Fountain’, by Nicole Eisenman). The H&W website notes the programme of changing sculpture in the grounds, so be sure to check the current exhibitions in each of the spaces before your visit.
At the time of writing (June 2021):
Oudolf Field is open Tue – Sun, 10 am – 5 pm.
Entrance to the gallery and garden is free, and donations to local charities are encouraged. Timed reservations are currently in place.
I’d recommend listening to the Podcast ‘Talk Art’ hosted by Russel Tovey and Robert Diament, who’s episode ‘Hauser & Wirth Somerset Exhibition, presented by BMW’ (26th May 2021) provides quirky and interesting background. It includes interviews with Dea Vanagan, Director of Hauser & Wirth Somerset, and Aileen Corkery, Director of Hauser & Wirth London. Spotify link here.
