It is a crisp, early spring morning, and you are driving through the rolling hills of Somerset in England. The misty air is filled with the promise of discovery as you navigate the winding country lanes lined with ancient hedgerows and pastoral landscapes. Your destination is not merely another country place or estate but a portal to a new dimension of art and nature intertwined: Hauser & Wirth Somerset.

Nestled in the lush landscapes, weaving together threads of the past and present is a place that could best be described as enchanting. Upon approaching, the first thing that strikes you is the seamless integration of an art space with historic surroundings. Set within a historic farmhouse, the buildings surrounding are a blend of rustic charm and modern design, where old stone meets contemporary architecture in a dialogue between the past and present. The gallery spaces are expansive, filled with natural light that pours in through large windows, offering views of the surrounding landscape and vast gardens that are artworks in their own right.

The heart of Hauser & Wirth Somerset is its vast garden, designed by the internationally acclaimed landscape architect Piet Oudolf. Known for his use of perennial meadows and naturalistic planting, Oudolf’s garden is a living canvas that changes with the seasons. In spring and summer, it’s a riot of color and life, with swaths of grasses and flowers dancing in the breeze. In autumn and winter, the garden takes on a stark beauty, with the architectural forms of plants outlined against the Somerset sky. The garden is an integral part of the gallery’s identity, hosting outdoor sculptures that engage in an ongoing conversation with the landscape. Walking through it, you’re invited to slow down, to contemplate, and to experience art in a context that blurs the boundaries between the natural and the man-made.

But it is not only a blend of culture and nature. The space is also a community engagement evident in programs like the “writer’s residency” launched in partnership with ArtReview. This program highlights a commitment to fostering creative dialogue and community engagement, offering writers a chance to immerse themselves in the artistic environment and engage with the local community, landscape, and resident artists.

Beyond the galleries, the garden, its community program, and artist residencies, Hauser & Wirth Somerset extends its philosophy of integration to the on-site restaurant, the Roth Bar & Grill. Here, the connection to the land is palpable, with a menu that emphasizes local produce and seasonal ingredients, some of which are grown on the premises.

Visiting Hauser & Wirth Somerset is an experience of the extraordinary. A place where art is lived, not just viewed; where every detail, from the exhibitions to the landscaping, and even the food, is curated to create a unique and immersive experience. It’s a testament to the idea that art can and should be a part of everyday life, enriching our experience of the world in profound and unexpected ways.

The masterminds behind Hauser & Wirth, one of the largest and most powerful galleries in the world, are Iwan Wirth and his partner Manuela, together with her mother Ursula Hauser. Together they have sculpted Hauser & Wirth, which was originally established in St. Gallen, Switzerland, in 1992, into more than just a gallery – it has evolved over the past 30 years into an art empire. It currently boasts 17 gallery spaces, from Los Angeles to London, Zurich and Monaco, Somerset and Menorca, and represents 103 artists and artists’ estates, trading paintings worth millions.

The Durslade Farm in Somerset is just one facet of the Wirths’ ambitious venture and vision. Under the umbrella of Artfarm, they have extended their influence into hospitality, marrying the culinary arts with visual expression. With upcoming spaces in Basel and London’s Mayfair, they are poised to match, if not eclipse, the presence of other mega-galleries. Artfarm’s acquisition of the famous private dining Groucho Club in Soho and the Audley pub in Mayfair further blurs the lines between art, hospitality, and lifestyle, redefining what a gallery can be. But do not be mistaken – all spaces beyond the gallery white cubes are also studded with amazing art – all of course for sale. Hauser & Wirth will then level with the 19 gallery spaces currently run by Gagosian, best known of the world’s four “mega-galleries”: Gagosian, David Zwirner, and Pace. The other three mega-galleries stage museum-quality exhibitions in outstanding gallery spaces and publish books. But it’s the synthesis of art, life, and community that sets Hauser & Wirth apart in the pantheon of global art powerhouses.

The connection between a prestigious gallery, showcasing artists like Cindy Sherman, Mark Bradford, Rashid Johnson, as well as the estates of the esteemed Louise Bourgeois or Eva Hesse, and their engagement in the hospitality sector leaves some insiders of the art world baffeled and they find it challenging to understand the intertwining of such high-caliber art representation with lifestyle and hospitality. Yet, the narrative of Hauser & Wirth is one of audacious ambition and meticulous execution. From the idyllic countryside of Somerset to Menorca and beyond, they have crafted spaces that are galleries, community hubs, and testaments to the enduring power of art.

One of the latest projects, Hauser & Wirth Menorca, was completed in 2021. It is nestled on the Isla del Rey, and harmonizes the serene beauty of the Mediterranean with the vigor of contemporary art. This unique location combines the tranquility of Menorca’s landscapes with avant-garde art exhibitions, housed in a sensitively restored 18th-century naval hospital with a restaurant.

Hauser & Wirth offer in all of their locations an immersive experience where art is accessible, engaging, and integral to the fabric of everyday life. Their expansion is marked by strategic acquisitions and visionary projects soon also expanding to the idyllic spot of Sils Maria in the Engadin of Switzerland.

Yet, it’s not just about the art spaces or the hospitality alone. It’s about a vision that sees art as a living, breathing entity, integral to community, culture, and conversation. Hauser & Wirth’s innovative approach to integrating art with lifestyle elements marks a unique position within the art gallery ecosystem.