The building's golden exterior is clad in over 4,000 polycarbonate panels.
The structure is built on a site that previously held a bus depot and was historically near the site of a Roman house.
The building's floor plan is inspired by the shape of a crescent to reflect the site's proximity to the historic town center.
The interior contains one of the largest continuous floor spaces in the UK without internal supporting columns.
The facility houses the 'Colchester Vase,' a significant Roman artifact, within its collection.
The architecture is designed to be carbon neutral in its heating and cooling operations via a ground source heat pump system.
Firstsite is a contemporary visual arts organization housed in a distinctive, crescent-shaped golden building designed by architect Rafael Viñoly. The structure features a unique translucent facade that maximizes natural light throughout the interior gallery spaces. It serves as a hub for both international contemporary art and local community-led creative projects. The site incorporates a large auditorium, a cinema, and a dedicated education space. The building itself is an architectural landmark situated within the historic heart of Colchester. It hosts a rotating program of exhibitions ranging from fine art and installation to film and digital media.
The external golden curved wall reflecting the sunlight, viewed from the pedestrian entrance path.
Check the online program guide before arriving to see if there are live workshops or cinema screenings during your visit.
Take advantage of the open-plan layout to view the architecture from the upper gallery levels.
Visit the onsite cafe which often sources ingredients from local Essex producers.
Do not assume all exhibitions are static; many involve interactive or digital installations that require active participation.
Closed on Mondays.
