Tate St Ives – Palais De Danse - Architect, Lead Designer and Heritage Specialist, Structural Engineer and MEP Engineer

Palais de Danse is one of the most unique spaces in St Ives. Formerly a cinema and dance hall, it was used by Barbara Hepworth from 1961 onwards as her second studio where she created some of her largest sculptures. The Palais is both deeply rooted in community memory and central to Hepworth’s artistic legacy worldwide, and holds significance for local residents as well as historians and enthusiasts of modern art. Located directly opposite Trewyn Studio - now the Barbara Hepworth Museum and Sculpture Garden - the Palais was gifted to Tate from the Hepworth Estate in 2015 and was awarded Grade II listed status in 2020. Together, these buildings housed the entire scope of Hepworth’s creative work from 1949-1975. Tate are embarking on a capital project to renovate the Palais and uncover its rich history, realise its immense potential as a community-shaped heritage site, and continue its story by securing the building for the long term. Tate are looking to appoint a professional team to support this ambition and to realise an innovative design response to give the unique heritage of the Palais de Danse a new life. The architectural and engineering solution will secure the building for future public use and open it up to a broad range of visitors. A successful project will balance Tate’s aspirations with the artistic, social, and architectural heritage significance of the Grade II listed structure and regenerate the site in a sustainable way for the future generations.