The British Museum has initiated an international competition to find a design team to assist with the reimagining of more than a third of the museum’s gallery spaces in London.
The British Museum Western Range Architectural Competition seeks to identify a design consortium led by an architect that can work alongside the museum and its curators on an ongoing basis to transform the galleries on its western side for contemporary occupation. This part of the museum currently houses collections from Ancient Egypt, Greece, Rome, Ancient Assyria and the Middle East.
Russell Torrance, director of estates and capital projects at the British Museum, explained that the competition is unique: “Rather than seeking a fixed outcome in the form of a concept design, the competition is structured around exercises that will assess the working methods and approach of the design teams: the competition format allows us to engage with shortlisted teams over an extended period of time and as such we’ve sought to make our requirements accessible and interesting. We want to meet the team with the vision and skill to collaborate with the British Museum on an ongoing basis as we embark on a hugely significant programme of work for our historic buildings and the collections they house, as well as our users – visitors and staff.”
Stage one of the competition will invite teams to submit a standard questionnaire, alongside documents, images, drawings, diagrams and references to explain the team’s understanding of how a contemporary museum should look and feel.
In addition, teams are requested to submit documents outlining their approach to design, heritage and context, technical and logistical challenges, sustainability and innovation within budgetary constraints.
Entries will be judged by a panel comprising George Osborne (jury chair), Yvonne Farrell, Meneesha Kellay, Mahrukh Tarapor, Sarah Younger, Mark Jones and Nicholas Cullinan, alongside representatives from the British Museum’s Board of Trustees: Tracey Emin, Charlie Mayfield and Alejandro Santo Domingo.
The competition marks a further step in the delivery of the museum’s masterplan, which will also see the new Archaeological Research Centre in Reading opening in 2024.
Chair of the British Museum George Osborne said that the museum is one of London’s most-visited landmarks: “… Like the city itself, it feels timeless as a space because it constantly evolves. Each generation makes its own contribution: two hundred years ago, our forebears commissioned the great classical facade; a hundred years ago, it was the King Edward VI building; a quarter of a century ago, it was the Great Court,” he said.
“Now our generation is calling out across the world, and across Britain, for an architectural practice with the imagination, the sympathy and the vision to help us rebuild and restore the most famous galleries of the museum, where our sculptures from Ancient Greece, Rome and Mesopotamia are displayed. In this home to the history of humanity, come help us – quite literally – build the future.”
The British Museum Western Range Architectural Competition is open for entries until 21 June 2024. Full details are available here and the competition tender documents can be accessed here.
Source: Architecture - architectureau
