Greenville Trust
Islamic Art Galleries and Relics Room Design & Curated
SMA Design was originally contacted by Greensville Trust and an Islamic UK charity to review the progress of its Islamic Art Galleries and Relics Room, an art project jointly funded with Bradford City Council. The project is located on a stunning 14-acre site dating back to 1876. An architect had already been appointed to design the interior spaces, which were to be housed in one of the existing buildings on the site.
Since the architectural practice had no prior experience designing art galleries, Shaykh Ibrahim Osi-Efa, leader of Greensville Trust, wanted to ensure the project was proceeding correctly. Simon Morris, an experienced museum and gallery designer, was brought in to visit the site at short notice, as time was critical to avoid losing Bradford City Council’s funding.
The Islamic art galleries were intended to showcase not only Islamic art and relics but also future in-house and external exhibitions. These exhibitions could feature works of art, historical topics, or items from any religion or location, provided they did not conflict with Islamic beliefs.
Following the initial consultation, it became clear that, despite the architect’s best efforts, fundamental errors had been made in the design and internal layouts. As a result, it was decided that SMA Design would take the project forward. SMA Design then met with Bradford City Council and members of Greensville Trust to realign the project, ensuring it could be completed on time and within the agreed joint budget.
Working closely with Shaykh Ibrahim and Zahid Iqbal, the site manager and project manager for Greensville Trust, SMA Design developed a new layout. The space was divided into four main areas:
“jointly funded project with Bradford City Council”
• The Entrance – showcasing the history, goals, and aspirations of Greensville Trust.
• Temporary Gallery – for short-term, changing exhibitions.
• Long-Term Gallery – for more permanent exhibitions or longer-running displays.
• The Relics Room – the permanent gallery space for religious artefacts from Mecca and Madinah, considered the “gem in the crown.”
Once the concept design was approved, three quotes were obtained for all required work to meet the Council’s grant requirements.
Remarkably, despite the number of contractors involved, this was completed in less than two weeks. Budget and schedule approvals took slightly longer due to Bradford City Council’s due diligence processes.
Transforming a University Building into a Flexible, Light-Filled Art Gallery
Contractors soon arrived on-site and fully embraced Greensville Trust’s vision. They delivered a very high standard of workmanship and often contributed materials and labour free of charge to help keep the project within budget and enhance overall quality.
The building had previously served as the University of Bradford’s offices, featuring 19 modular windows along each long side and floor-to-ceiling glass facades at both short ends. These features presented challenges for an art gallery, as they were not ideal for display or lighting control.
To address these challenges, SMA Design proposed large hinged shutters in front of the windows, floating 70mm off the wall. These allowed natural light to enter down the sides of the shutters, adding a sense of spirituality, while also providing extra hanging space for artworks. When locked at a 90-degree angle, the shutters doubled the hanging space. Additional infill panels could be inserted between the shutters for larger works.
High-quality museum lighting was a key focus of the design, using tunable white LED fittings with varying beam angles and attachments to enhance displays.
All lighting tracks were optimally positioned to ensure each artwork and exhibit could be illuminated perfectly, giving maximum flexibility and impact for every exhibition. The system is fully controllable via Bluetooth, allowing precise adjustment to suit any exhibition and create a “wow” factor.
Maximum Flexibility & Impact for Every Exhibition
Shaykh Ibrahim also requested that the exhibition spaces be flexible enough to host events while exhibitions were on display. SMA Design achieved this with a unique dual-height wall system, which could be wheeled away once the bottom plinth was removed. The walls, 2.6 meters high and 0.5 meters deep, were fully stable and, when not in use, could be flat-packed and stored in dedicated storage areas created within the walls’ construction, accessed through invisible doors.
Showcases were designed to be as future-proof as possible, using ionised, non-reflective glass, and were mobile on specially designed trolleys. These custom displays allow the galleries to host changing exhibitions of Islamic art and relics with maximum flexibility.
The main feature of the Islamic Art Galleries and Relics Room was an extraordinary pair of 3.4-meter wooden doors, carved two centuries ago with intricate Islamic patterns. Their presence whispered of centuries of devotion and artistry, inviting visitors to pause, reflect, and prepare for what lay beyond.
Behind these majestic doors, the Relics Room awaited a serene treasury of sacred artefacts, each echoing the spiritual and historical richness of Islamic heritage.
The Islamic Art Galleries and Relics Room have been warmly received by both the local community and the wider media. BBC North featured the project, praising the innovative design and the way it brings Islamic art and heritage to life.
Visitors from Bradford and beyond have expressed admiration for the galleries, highlighting the sense of serenity, cultural richness, and inspiration the space provides. All the galleries and exhibition spaces were completed on time and within budget, to the delight of Bradford City Council, Greensville Trust, and the local community.