Situated in the grounds of St Fagans National Museum of History, Gweithdy is a pavilion that highlights Welsh craftsmanship. The building’s name means ‘workshop’ in Welsh and it was built to host hands-on demonstrations for crafts in its workshops and forge, and display more than 500 artefacts. It also houses a coffee shop and amenities.
Blending into nature
Opened in 2018, ‘Gweithdy’ sits in the 19th century woodland landscape of St Fagans open-air museum in Cardiff. The museum wanted the building to inspire visitors by displaying artefacts and providing opportunities for people to develop their own skills as makers.
In response, architect Feilden Clegg Bradley Studios created a scheme that serves as a focal point that draws visitors into the park.
The low-lying building has a simple triangular plan, with an exterior that blends into the park with natural materials and a subdued colour palette.
Stone wool insulated sandwich panels were used as the basis of the external walls. They have a matt grey finish and are installed in a vertical orientation alongside glazing, while a repetitive pattern of vertical timber strips acts as camouflage to integrate the building into its context.
Gweithdy at St Fagans National Museum of History
St Fagans | Cardiff | Wales