Cheltenham Art Gallery selects extension shortlist

Cheltenham Art Gallery and Museum has named a four-strong shortlist in the competition to design an extension to its famous Arts and Crafts home.

Finalists Oxford-based Berman Guedes Stretton, London's Ellis Williams, David Grindley Architects from Milton Keynes and Rambøll Whitbybird's Manchester office were selected from 77 entries in the RIBA-organised contest.

Last month the gallery took the unusual step of showcasing all the submissions online to allow the public to comment on the proposals, which will see the current exhibition space increased and the circulation improved.The winning scheme is to 'sit within the footprint of a disparate collection of buildings and an adjacent semi-derelict site', and will provide better storage, education space and 'greater public access to study collections'.

Speaking about the selection process Richard Brearley, the RIBA adviser, said: 'The judges were very impressed at the standard of the submissions and with the consultative process which has taken place.

'It was a difficult task to narrow the entries down to four, but we are confident that those chosen to go forward to the next stage will meet the competition brief of being unique, functional, eco-friendly and achievable.'

The four teams will be interviewed by the judges in early December.