The major project’s first phase will result in a public display of proposals this winter.
Plans to redesign over a third of the British Museum’s gallery space have progressed as it launched an international architectural competition.
Part of the Museum’s Masterplan, the process will see it first shortlist and then select a team to collaboratively reimagine both its gallery space and significant back of house areas in the largest project since its opening.
The western side of the Museum holds a third of its overall gallery space currently housing collections from Ancient Egypt, Greece (including the Parthenon Sculptures), Rome, Ancient Assyria and the Middle East.
The museum said the winning team will “need to put forward a proposal which is both a contemporary vision for how to present the collection for a modern day visitor experience, but remains sympathetic to the original Smirke building.
“They will also need to consider how the design can accommodate the Museum’s ambition to remain open to visitors for the period of building works.”
Applicants will be judged by an expert panel of ten members, chaired by Chair of the British Museum George Osborne. He will be joined by Grafton Architects co-founder Yvonne Farrell, V&A Curator Meneesha Kellay, international museum professional Mahrukh Tarapor, and Sarah Younger, Project Director for the National Gallery 200 project.
The museum’s Interim Director Mark Jones and new Director Nicholas Cullinan will also sit on the panel alongside representatives from its Board of Trustees: Tracey Emin, Charlie Mayfield and Alejandro Santo Domingo.
A public display of the proposals by the final teams will take place this winter.
