British Museum Development London : Architecture

British Museum Expansion - CABE Review 25 Nov 2009 CABE has given conditional support to the British Museum Redevelopment Project. Design Review: CABE supports the design team's intelligent response to this difficult brief and highly constrained site and the principle of inserting a contemporary extension within the envelope of the listed museum building. However, it feels that one area which could be improved is the detailed design of the proposed elevation onto Montague Place. We believe that this is a successful response to the complicated physical, functional and logistical constraints of the site. The clear circulatory strategies, in both plan and section, make the resolution of a complex brief look simple. A clear and legible hierarchy has emerged from the organisation of functions and spaces in plan form and in section. We understand the constraints of the brief and support the connection from the Great Court to the proposed museum extension. The relationship between the existing building and the extension has been well resolved; particularly the differences in levels between various parts of both building have been dealt with in a skilful manner to allow seamless circulation of people from the Great Court to the new exhibition spaces. We support this scheme and think that it is a successful response to the complex brief but we suggest some improvements to the elevation facing onto Montague Place. British Museum Extension Revision Image Update - 24 Sep 2009 Revised view from Malet Street: British Museum Extension : close-up of the above image British Museum Extension Revision News Update - 17 Sep 2009 Latest proposal includes more than a fifth of the building be buried underground, to appease opponents of the scheme. A revised planning submission is due soon. An exhibition of Rogers Stirk Harbour + Partners' proposals starts at the British Museum on 25 Sep 2009 British Museum Extension Refusal News Update - 24 Jul 2009 Coming hard on the heels of the Chelsea Barracks debacle this is bad news for Rogers Stirk Harbour + Partners. Camden Council planning committee unexpectedly rejected Richard Rogers’ British Museum extension project by five votes to three. Camden Council Statement on the British Museum decision: Camden Council's Development Control Committee last night turned down the British Museum's plans for the north-west development. The application was recommended for approval and had the support of English Heritage. However, after careful consideration the committee decided that the proposed benefits of the scheme did not outweigh their concerns about the design within its context. The Council will continue to respond to the concerns of the community and other interested parties looking to take this project forward. British Museum Expansion - CABE Review 9 Jun 2009 CABE review states 'while the stylistic approach is accomplished, we think that, in comparison, the architectural expression of the proposed extension could perhaps be stronger' but that a 'clear and legible hierarchy has emerged from the organisation of functions and spaces in plan form and in section.' Previously we have received criticism of the design by Camden Civic Society. British Museum Extension 1 Apr 2009 Design Plans for British Museum’s new development revealed The British Museum has revealed the designs for its forthcoming development project in advance of a planning application to Camden Council in April 2009. The £135 million development has been designed by Rogers Stirk Harbour + Partners (RSHP) and will be the largest development onsite since the Great Court opened in 2000. Subject to planning permission, the new development will open in late 2012. image © the Trustees of the British Museum This project will ensure the Museum maintains its position as a leading institution for the study of human culture, in London, in Britain and the World through an upgrade of key facilities. The development will address urgent needs in terms of the Museum’s infrastructure and will provide a new exhibition space, state-of-the-art conservation and science laboratories and studios, world-class accommodation for the study collection, as well as facilities to support its extensive UK and international loan programme. It will allow the Museum to enhance the exhibition experience, to lend more of the collection and most importantly will continue to preserve the collection for future generations. The Museum has a rich architectural heritage, the site has developed and grown at each stage of its history. This development will transform an under-utilised section of the site in the north west of the Museum, situated adjacent to the impressive King Edward VII Building which was completed in 1914. The challenge for the architects was to produce an elegant design that expresses the contemporary role and international standing of the Museum but executed in a manner which takes its cue from the Museum’s own institutional and architectural legacy. The design incorporates five linked pavilions (with connection points to the main Museum building), covering 17,000m2 with facades in glass and stone, making a visual link to the King Edward Building. Each building will operate on seven levels, including three underground storage basements. aerial photo © the Trustees of the British Museum Prior to submitting the planning application, the Museum has been engaged in an extensive programme of consultation on the project with Camden Council, planning bodies, conservation groups and local businesses and residents. The consultation process has been very beneficial, with comments from stakeholders leading to an improved design concept for the project. English Heritage and CABE have declared their support for the development, with English Heritage commenting that the ‘proposals have the potential to provide a first-class architectural response to the aim of achieving the Museum’s objectives, set out in its masterplan’. The pre-application consultation process will continue with a public exhibition at the Museum in early April. Funding for the project is well underway with £90 million of the total already raised. This has come from a variety of sources, including the Department of Culture, Media and Sport. The Museum is confident it can raise the remaining funds to complete the project. The development aims to be as energy efficient as possible, the placement of the different functions has been carefully considered to minimise energy consumption. Zero carbon technologies will be incorporated into the building through the use of roof-mounted photovoltaic cells, and ground source heat transfer will also be employed in the basement walls to mitigate heat loss and provide cooling to upper floors. The electric lighting-system will automatically dim or turn off where and when there is adequate daylight to illuminate the space. The development will form part of a site-wide strategy to reduce energy consumption. Andrew Burnett, Deputy Director of the British Museum said ‘The development will be a hugely significant project with multiple benefits for the public, the collection and for staff. It will enable the Museum to show more, lend more and preserve more of its collection for the benefit of current and future generations’ Graham Stirk, Project Director, Rogers Stirk Harbour + Partners, said: "Our proposal for the redevelopment of the north-west corner will provide a flexible series of spaces which support the wide range of activities undertaken by the British Museum.  We have introduced five linked pavilions which complement the solid, formal identity of the existing Grade I listed buildings, as well as responding to the structural rhythm of the adjacent King Edward VII building.  This design will be highly adaptable to the Museum’s changing requirements over time.” image © the Trustees of the British Museum