British Museum Spaceplan and Masterplan, London

SIZE: 10m objects
            1m sq ft
            1000 staff

Designs included: Galleries, new exhibition spaces, public circulation, entrance, collection houses, collection management, logistics, offices, laboratories, workshops, libraries, study rooms, café and retail.

A C19th icon, the British Museum was the first of its kind and the grade 1 listed estate remains unique. The aim of the masterplan was to provide ways for the Museum to sustain itself.

After identifying the varied issues facing a historic World Museum in the C21st, a Spaceplan was proposed for up to 2030 and beyond. These included possible site-wide strategies (eg for visitor access and object engagement, curatorial consolidation, urban context, environmental efficiencies…) and were then developed into possible projects. Project sizes and types varied considerably and were assessed against feasibility, revenue as well as curatorial priorities.

Paul Vick undertook whilst working at Ian Ritchie Architects