Immersive new ‘Room of Discovery’ opens to visitors at A la Ronde

A new ‘Room of Discovery’ is now open to visitors at A la Ronde, cared for by the National Trust near Exmouth, Devon. The Room of Discovery contains an immersive re-interpretation of A la Ronde’s intricate 200-year-old Shell Gallery, offering visitors a sense of the original space, which is too fragile to enter, to ensure its survival.   

It has been designed to provide a similar sense of wonder to the historic Shell Gallery and is inspired by its atmosphere, materials, patterns and ideas. It has taken over 1000 hours of work to create, using shells, feathers, crystals and much more.  

The Room of Discovery is on the lower ground floor and is fully accessible. It is part of the permanent visitor route so all visitors will be able to see the patterns, shapes, materials and hidden features up close and visitors are invited to explore this space through gentle touch. There is an equivalent offer available online.  

Emma Mee, Project Manager at A la Ronde, says: ‘We're delighted to be opening this new immersive space, inspired by the rare and beautiful Shell Gallery which is closed to visitors in order to protect it. We have created this new space so that visitors can still explore the same natural materials and crafting techniques employed over 200 years ago, whilst making sure the original Shell Gallery is protected.’ 

A la Ronde was built by Jane Parminter and her second cousin and Ward, Mary Parminter in the last years of the 18th century, following several ‘Grand Tours’ of Europe. They decorated their Devon home with imaginative interiors, including natural but fragile materials such as feathers and shells.    

Abi Dent, Senior Visitor Experience Officer at A la Ronde, says: ‘The Room of Discovery is just as intricate and atmospheric as the Parminter’s Shell Gallery but is intended for today’s visitors and made for exploring up close. It really is a magical space, and we are delighted it’s accessible, so we can share this exciting new part of the visitor route at A la Ronde with as many people as possible.’ 

In 2023 visual artist Monica-Shanta was selected from over 30 artists, designers, and craftspeople who responded to a ‘call out’ to take inspiration from the Shell Gallery and design a new ‘Room of Discovery’ for today's audiences.   

The selection panel were blown away by Monica-Shanta's intricate design, the artistry of her sample shell panel, her deep resonance with the themes and intentions of the property, and the authentic connection that she felt with the motivations of Jane and Mary Parminter who created A la Ronde. 

Monica-Shanta said: ‘This has been a wonderful opportunity to get to know, through research, the Parminter cousins who created A la Ronde. I too have a particular interest in the geometry of nature, am fascinated by shell rooms and grottoes, and have a strong sense of the connection between science and the spiritual. For me, the project has been a combination of research into the ideas of their era, as well as an opportunity to create and share work that feels true to my own creative interests.’ 

The Room of Discovery also features exquisite watercolours of birds by artist Clare Jenkinson. 

This work is a key part of the ‘A la Ronde: Conserving the Past, Creating the Future’ project which will see A la Ronde re-imagined for visitors, sharing the historic Shell Gallery in new ways. Funding of £300k is allowing the National Trust to carry out major conservation work, open new spaces and tell new stories for the first time since it took on A la Ronde in 1991.   

The Room of Discovery has been enabled thanks to generous funding from the Wolfson Foundation, the National Lottery Heritage Fund, and the National Trust, in addition to the generous support of visitors to A la Ronde.   

This vital work will culminate in summer 2024 and means that the unusual 16-sided house will be protected for future generations. 

A la Ronde is open every Tuesday to Sunday from 10:30am to 5:30pm until the end of October. Normal admission applies, free entry for members. Find out more at https://www.nationaltrust.org.uk/visit/devon/a-la-ronde