£60m Science Museum transformation underway

by Katie Buckley | 12 Sep 2014

The evolution of London’s Science Museum is now well underway, with several ‘starchitects’ being named to design its new galleries, while a new exhibition space is now set to open on 25 October.

Universal Design Studio’s Communication Gallery

The impending gallery, designed by Universal Design Studio, is the first in the UK to be entirely dedicated to the history of information and communication technologies.

Boasting 2,000sq m (21,528sq ft) of exhibition space, the gallery will feature more than 800 objects from the last 200 years, tracking the phenomenal breakthroughs that the world has seen in the realm of communication.

Filling one of the Science Museum’s largest exhibition spaces, the £16m (US$26m, €20m) Information Age Gallery has a 6-metre high aerial inductance coil at its centre, which was once part of the most powerful radio transmitter in the world.

Zaha Hadid’s Maths Gallery

Zaha Hadid Architects has been chosen to design the new mathematics gallery, planned to open in 2016, in the Science Museum’s historic main building.

At a price tag of £5m (US$8m, €6.3m) - the sum donated by the David and Claudia Harding Foundation - the gallery aims to explore the stories, tools and ideas behind mathematics, making it accessible and fun to the general public.

Hadid said: "The design explores the many influences of mathematics in our everyday lives; transforming seemingly abstract mathematical concepts into an exciting interactive experience for visitors of all ages."

View from East gallery entrance, Science Museum Mathematics Gallery - Zaha Hadid Architects

Muf Architecture’s Interactive Gallery

Another recent announcement, and also due to open in 2016, Muf Architecture/art has been appointed to design a £4m (US$6.5m, €5m) Interactive Gallery, encapsulating the awe of science and maths.

Karen Livingstone, director of the museum's masterplan, said the board was impressed with Muf’s “collaborative approach, strong design and bold vision for the new gallery.”

An internal plan of the gallery, aiming to increase visitor movement and interaction - Muf Architecture/art

Wilkinson Eyre’s Medical Galleries

Despite Wilkinson Eyre’s £150m (US$243m, €188m) masterplan for the Science Museum being rejected in 2011, the London-based practice has come back into the fold to design £24m (US$38.9m, €30.1m) worth of Medical Galleries for the iconic institute.

The new galleries will take up the entire first floor of the the museum, covering 3,000sq m (32,292sq ft) of space, and will house objects that explore the last 400 years of medical science.

The Medical Galleries should be completed in time for a 2018 opening. Jim Eyre, director of Wilkinson Eyre Architects, said: “We are very pleased to be working with the Science Museum again and look forward to embarking on the design of these object-rich gallery spaces."

Rendering of the first floor Medical Galleries from Wilkinson Eyre

Coffey Architects’ Library and Research Centre

Coffey Architects, another London-based practice, has been picked to design a £1.8m (US$2.9m, €2.3m) library and research centre for the Science Museum - a further part of the five year masterplan - due to open in 2015.

The new public facility will fill the first floor and ground floors of the institution's Wellcome Wolfson Building, completed by MJP Architects in 2004.

Practice director Phil Coffey commented:"The scheme itself is a simple idea to recreate the feeling of sitting under a tree, on a summer’s day, reading a book… offering a unique space with a strong identity to be enjoyed by both casual and academic users."

Coffey Architects' airy research space offers a quiet place for reading and study

The Science Museum’s Masterplan will transform around a third of the world-renowned museum over the next five years. Currently in the first stage, the overall project amounts to roughly £60m (US$97m, €75m). This has been raised through a combination of generous donations and grants from the Heritage Lottery Fund.

Related stories
09 Sep 2014

Muf wins Science Museum's new gallery contest

27 Jun 2014

Star names in running to design UK Science Museum transformation

The evolution of London’s Science Museum is now well underway, with several ‘starchitects’ being named to design its new galleries, while a new exhibition space is now set to open on 25 October. Universal Design Studio’s Communication Gallery The impending gallery, designed by Universal Design Studio, is the first in the UK to be entirely dedicated to the history of information and communication technologies. Boasting 2,000sq m (21,528sq ft) of
VAT,HAM,AAC,PRO,ARC,DES,CLD
The Science Museum's major revamp is well underway, with several big names behind the designs
More news
News stories: 1 - 30 of 8027     
 
 
 
News stories: 1 - 30 of 8027     
 
 
 
company profile
Company profile: Global Project & Spa Advisory
We focus as much on profitability as we do on customer experience, in the definition of global wellness services. Daily wellness is a trend we support. We define personalised services, integrating health prevention and all experiences that enhance the sustainability of one’s wellbeing.
Try cladmag for free!
Sign up with CLAD to receive our regular ezine, instant news alerts, free digital subscriptions to CLADweek, CLADmag and CLADbook and to request a free sample of the next issue of CLADmag.
sign up
features
Design-led projects are bringing the glamour back to train travel
Interview: Alfred Waugh
"In Indigenous culture, it’s more important to understand where you come from than what you do for a living"

The Vancouver Art Gallery architect tells us about his mission to bring together Western knowledge and Indigenous ways of knowing

Catalogue Gallery
Click on a catalogue to view it online
To advertise in our catalogue gallery: call +44(0)1462 431385
The project reimagines neglected land as a new green urban district
"Culture is the beating heart of this project"

Designed to restore neglected land and renew the identity of Iraq’s capital city, Baghdad Sustainable Forests promises a new way of living surrounded by nature. Gensler’s Ian Mulcahay tells us why he thinks the project could become a model for the repair and enhancement of urban centres

cladkit product news
LivinGlobe introduces redesigned adaptable Vidarium
LivinGlobe can install ultra short throw projections or premium LED panels, as well as the surround sound system and video server
Helen Andrews
Founded more than 10 years ago, LivinGlobe was one of the first companies in the immersive wellness space with its ...
TouchWood Play designs new kids’ club for Dubai’s Zuhha Island
The new club aims to connect children with nature
Magali Robathan
Bespoke play environment design and manufacturer TouchWood Play has announced that it is responsible for the creation of a new Kids’ ...
Lucas Zito aims to show 3D printed lamps can be timeless design objects
Lucas Zito’s practice specialises in the design of lights through 3D printing
Magali Robathan
A collection of lighting from Paris-based designer Lucas Zito aims to reframe the idea of 3D printed objects as cheap ...
cladkit product news
Snow’s holistic cool-down: Embracing inclusivity in post-sauna rituals
Megan Whitby
In the world of wellness, the age-old tradition of sauna bathing is synonymous with relaxation, detoxification and rejuvenation. But, a ...
OpenSeed launches private multisensory Iris Meditation Pod
The Iris Pod features vibro-acoustic technology, aromatherapy, light therapy, music, guided meditations and soundscapes
Helen Andrews
OpenSeed has launched its multisensory Iris Meditation Pod, designed in collaboration with Fuseproject – a design and innovation company founded ...
Heatherwick Studio and lighting brand Tala collaborate to create sleep light called Wake
Wake is crafted from hand-spun ceramic and pressed glass, behind which a gentle light emanates to improve sleep routines and wellbeing
Helen Andrews
Design firm Heatherwick Studio and British lighting brand Tala have teamed up to create a sleep light called Wake. The ...
cladkit product news
Porada launch retro-inspired coffee table
Porada's new Enook Brillo coffee table
Magali Robathan
Maurizio Marconato and Terry Zappa have created the Enook Brillo coffee table for Italian design studio Porada – a retro-inspired design ...
New Balera collection embeds lighting in 
tiled feature walls
Studiotamat has teamed up with Ariana de Luca to create the Balera range
Magali Robathan
The new Balera Collection sees design studio Studiotamat team up with ceramic artist Arianna De Luca and lighting designer Ninefifty ...
Effe introduces sauna and hammam collection Baluar by Patricia Urquiola
The system uses heat-treated lime wood cladding, available in either a dark or light tone
Helen Andrews
Sauna specialist Effe (formerly Effegibi) has introduced its new sauna and hammam collection, Baluar, designed by architect and designer Patricia ...
x
Sign up with CLAD for regular news updates