Following the news last year that five teams had been shortlisted to redesign and reimagine the grounds of London's iconic Natural History Museum (NHM), five anonymous concept images have been unveiled. The brief called for proposals to "reshape the Museum’s grounds and reinvigorate its public setting" with an aim to creating "an innovative exterior setting that matches Alfred Waterhouse’s Grade I listed building and the award-winning Darwin Centre for architectural excellence, whilst also improving access and engaging visitors."
Read on to see the competing teams, including individual concept images from BIG, Stanton Williams and Feilden Clegg Bradley.
For Malcolm Reading, architect and competition organiser, "for anyone interested in design, this project is fascinating because it fuses architecture with landscape and addresses a landmark site that is admired across the world. The submissions are intriguing and the shortlisted teams brim with talented designers who are determined to” showcase the Museum like never before." According to Dr Michael Dixon, director of the NHM, "the quality and creativity of the concepts gives great insight into the design philosophy of each team and takes us one step closer to appointing the right candidate."
The leaders of the five competing teams are:
- BIG (Bjarke Ingels Group) with Martha Schwartz Partners
- Grant Associates with Feilden Clegg Bradley Studios
- Niall McLaughlin Architects with Kim Wilkie
- Land Use Consultants (LUC) with Design Engine
- Stanton Williams Architects with Bradley-Hole Schoenaich Landscape Architects
The jury comprises of:
- Ian Henderson CBE (Chair) – Deputy Chairman of Capco (Capital & Counties Properties plc) and Chair of Natural History Museum Estates and Building Advisory Committee
- Abbas Barkhordar – Councillor for the Brompton Ward
- Michael Portillo – Journalist, Broadcaster and former Cabinet Minister
- Graham Morrison – Partner, Allies and Morrison
- Sophie Andreae – Former Head of London Division of English Heritage and Chairperson of the Brompton Association
- Dr Derek Langslow CBE – Former Chief Executive of English Nature and Natural History Museum Trustee
- Professor Ian Owens – Director of Science at the Natural History Museum
- Kevin Rellis – Head of Estates at the Natural History Museum
- Dr Justin Morris – Director of Public Engagement at the Natural History Museum
- Malcolm Reading (Adviser) – Chairman, Malcolm Reading Consultants
The winning team is expected to be announced by the Museum in April 2014. The design boards will be on show at the museum from 27th February to 11th March 2014.
