Bond Museum Momence Building, Illinois

Bond Museum Momence Building, Architect, Ian Fleming Foundation Illinois Project, American Design Images

Museum of Bond Vehicles and Espionage

New Building in Momence, Illinois, United States of America design by Gensler architects

Jul 20, 2010

Design: Gensler architects

Ian Fleming Foundation collection

Bond Museum, Momence Illinois cars

Bond Museum, Illinois

Museum of Bond Vehicles and Espionage

London – International architecture, design and planning firm Gensler today, unveiled its design for the Museum of Bond Vehicles and Espionage, which is slated to open in Momence, IL, in 2012, on the 50th anniversary of the first James Bond movie, Dr. No.

The 14,000 square foot museum will house the exclusive collection of the Ian Fleming Foundation, including the world’s largest collection of vehicles used in Bond films. A partnership between the Ian Fleming Foundation, the Kankakee County Museum and the City of Momence, this Gensler-designed museum will also feature cultural artifacts of espionage with exhibits exploring contemporary culture’s impact on the Bond films as well as Bond’s influence on popular culture.

Bond Museum, Momence Building, Illinois

With projections of 20,000 visitors per year, the museum hopes to revitalize Momence, Illinois, a historic border town located 50 miles south of Chicago.

Bond Museum, Momence, Illinois, USA

The project itself is a bit of a double agent, says Gensler Design Director Brian Vitale. At face value, we’ve designed a showcase for a world-class collection of James Bond vehicles and the culture that surrounds them. But its real mission is to become a powerful catalyst for the revitalisation of a once-vibrant city.

Bond Museum, Momence Building, Illinois plan layout

With a limited budget, Gensler focused on a single bold design move to make a statement against a simple backdrop. The result is the 007 window (named so because the window’s angled jamb resembles a 7), located at the building’s prominent corner.

The window does quadruple-duty, providing exhibit display space, signage, a day lit interior, and an iconic backdrop for photographs. The remainder of the building is clad in black horizontal corrugated metal. It’s a mysterious silhouette that reveals very little of the museum’s content, much like James Bond himself, said Vitale.

Museum of Bond Vehicles and Espionage cars

Museum of Bond Vehicles and Espionage Illinois – images / information from Gensler

About Gensler
Gensler Architects is a global architecture, design, planning, and strategic consulting firm, with more than 2200 professionals networked across 31 offices on five continents. Consistently ranked by U.S. European and international industry surveys as the leading architecture and interior design firm, Gensler leverages its deep resources and diverse expertise to develop design solutions for industries across the globe.

Since 1965, Gensler has collaborated with clients to create environments that enhance organisational performance, achieve measurable business goals, enrich people and communities, and enhance everyday experiences.

Museum of Bond Vehicles and Espionage USA interior

The Ian Fleming Foundation James Bond 007 Movie Vehicle Inventory

All of the following vehicles are owned by The Ian Fleming Foundation. Every vehicle is the actual vehicle used on screen.

1. Dr. No (1962) – no vehicle
2. From Russia With Love (1963) – no vehicle
3. Goldfinger (1964) – Lockheed Martin VC-140B Jet Star scale model
4. Thunderball (1965) – Tow Sled
5. Thunderball (1965) – RAF Vulcan Bomber model
6. You Only Live Twice (1967) – Model 45 Bell Helicopter model
7. On Her Majesty’s Secret Service (1969) – Tracey’s 1969 Mercury Cougar XR7 428 Cobra Jet Convertible
8. Diamonds Are Forever (1971) – Ford Mustang Mach 1 429 Cobra Jet
9. Diamonds Are Forever (1971) – Bath-O-Sub
10. Diamonds Are Forever (1971) – Honda ATV-90
11. Live and Let Die (1973) – Glastron Chase / Jump Boat
12. Live and Let Die (1973) – Glastron Chase Boat
13. The Man With The Golden Gun (1974) – AMC Hornet
14. The Spy Who Loved Me (1977) – Lotus Submarine Car
15. The Spy Who Loved Me (1977) – Wetbike Water Cycle
16. Moonraker (1979) – Glastron Amazon Chase Boat
17. For Your Eyes Only (1981) – CV3 Citroen
18. For Your Eyes Only (1981) – Neptune Submarine
19. Octopussy (1983) – Auto-Rickshaw, “Tuk-Tuk”
20. A View To A Kill (1985) – Renault Taxi
21. The Living Daylights (1987) – Aston Martin Volante
22. Licence To Kill (1989) – Villains Kenworth Truck
23. Goldeneye (1995) – Cagiva Motorcycle
24. Tomorrow Never Dies (1997) – BMW R 1200 C Motorcycle
25. The World Is Not Enough (1999) – “Q’s” Jet Boat
26. The World Is Not Enough (1999) – Villains Land Parahawks
27. The World Is Not Enough (1999) – Villains Flying Parahawk
28. Die Another Day (2002) – Jaguar XKR
29. Die Another Day (2002) – Bombardier Rev 800 MXZ Ski-Doos
30. Die Another Day (2002) – Switchblade
31. Casino Royale (2006) – Ford Mondeo
32. Quantum of Solace (2008) – no vehicle

Location: Momence, Illinois, United States of America – near Chicago

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