In this section
Press releases
- Museum of London receives Trump Baby blimp ahead of the Presidential Inauguration
- Museum of London to collect COVID dreams
- Arsenal’s captain donates Black Lives Matter shirt to the Museum of London
- Dub London: Bassline of a City opening 2 October at the Museum of London
- Public statement October 2020
- London Sugar & Slavery gallery
- New major exhibition Havering Hoard: A Bronze Age Mystery opens 11 September at the Museum of London Docklands
- Robert Milligan statue statement
- Museum of London sites to reopen 6 August with four-week extension of The Clash: London Calling display
- Public statement
- Museum of London releases first ever recorded soundscapes of London alongside new recordings of London in lockdown as part of Collecting COVID project
- Design concepts for new museum at West Smithfield revealed
- The Museum of London collects shared experiences of Ramadan in lockdown as part of Collecting COVID project
- Unheard oral histories are released by the Museum of London to mark Windrush Day
- Collecting Covid: the Museum of London seeks to mark unprecedented pandemic for the future
- Millicent Fawcett’s ‘Steadfastness and Courage’ brooch to go on permanent display for the first time
- Museum of London submits plans to create a new world-class cultural destination in West Smithfield
- King Charles I’s execution vest to go on display in new major exhibition
- Museum of London to celebrate Dub Reggae and its influence on the capital
- East End bastion Syd’s coffee stall to be donated to the Museum of London
- Free exhibit celebrating the making of The Clash’s ground-breaking album ‘London Calling’ now open
- Museum of London acquires extremely rare plate that belonged to Samuel Pepys
- The story of the Krios of Sierra Leone to be told in the Museum of London Docklands’ latest display
- Museum of London to host The Clash: London Calling exclusive free exhibit of over 100 personal items
- The largest ever Bronze Age hoard in London has been discovered
- Designs for Museum of London’s new West Smithfield home revealed
- Smithfield Street Party
- Museum of London hopes to acquire both the Trump Baby Blimp and the Sadiq Khan Blimp as part of their permanent collection
- Secret Rivers
- Beasts of London
- Recently acquired panorama goes on display for the first time at the Museum of London
- Museum of London appoints leading names to Board of Governors
- Earliest skull ever mudlarked from the Thames to go on display at the Museum of London
- Museum of London acquires beautiful panorama of lost Houses of Parliament
- Bengali arts and culture on show at the Museum of London Docklands family festival.
- Young Londoners to take over Museum of London this March
- Treasured children’s author Jacqueline Wilson’s latest book Wave Me Goodbye inspires family day at the Museum of London Docklands
- Adventures in Peter Pan’s Neverland at Museum of London Docklands
- Photography of Londoners and their pastimes on show at Museum of London
- Museum of London Docklands celebrates Chinese New Year this February half term
- Museum of London Docklands to showcase rare Roman sarcophagus in first public display
- “Reputational whitewashing” investigated in latest display at the Museum of London Docklands.
- Taste not waste: Be inspired by unique recipes using your leftover food for a more sustainable future London
- Whitechapel’s famous monster fatberg is coming to the Museum of London
- An Idea for a Future London open call winner announced
- London Visions: Hypothetical scenarios of a future London
- Rare George Cross medal goes on display at the Museum of London Docklands
- Smithfield street party: Museum of London celebrates 150 years of Smithfield markets
- Technology replacing jobs won’t halt our working spirit
- Learn how to code like a pro and celebrate digital technology at the Museum of London’s free family festival
- Votes for Women programme
- All aboard for the Maritime music festival
- New display reveals complex history of British Army’s West India Regiments
- Paddington returns to Museum of London
- Bonus Levels: Artist Lawrence Lek invites viewers to re-imagine future London
- The Museum of London hopes to acquire Whitechapel 'fatberg'
- The City is Ours: A Tale of New Cities
- Tracking London’s most talked about topics and emojis
- London Nights: Museum of London unveils the city at night in major photography exhibition
- Statement on 20 May 2017
- Digital visions of London, faces of the capital photographed and portrait painting in exchange for a favour
- Malcolm Reading Consultants appointed to run West Smithfield International Design Competition
- What does the future hold for London and cities around the world?
- Museum of London releases third and final Great Fire 1666 Minecraft map
- Museum of London acquires 100 menswear items worn by townscape consultant Francis Golding
- 8,000 years of human history on display at the Museum of London Docklands
- Five Museum of London apprentices appointed
- Looking for Londoners and Show Space
- Museum of London displays recently acquired Sutherland drawings in new exhibition of Blitz artwork
- Mayor of London and City of London Corporation pledge support for new Museum of London at West Smithfield
- Museum of London uses Minecraft to recreate the Great Fire of 1666
- City Now City Future: a conversation about the past, present and future of our cities
- Rare tools give insight into working lives of Roman Londoners at the Museum of London
- Museum of London opens most theatrical exhibition ever to mark 350th anniversary of the Great Fire of London
- New display at the Museum of London traces the capital’s obsession with ice skating
- Historic vessels Knocker White and Varlet set sail to new home at Trinity Buoy Wharf
- Missing Bake Off? Take your taste buds back in time with 17th century gingerbread
- Rare Victoria Cross with mysterious story to go on display at the Museum of London
- Museum of London bolsters its art collections
- Museum of London x Craft Central pop-up opens for Christmas 2016
- 17th century fire engine restored for Great Fire exhibition
- Museum of London boosts Great Fire collections with mysterious manuscript
- After dark at The Night Museum
- New display about the life of ‘The Royal African’ and the slave trade
- Joe Corré, Jordan and Richard Boon to appear in an uncensored, live Punk.London debate
- People of Punk bring the year of celebration to an end
- Tunnel: the archaeology of Crossrail
- New archaeological exhibition opens at the Museum of London
- New research to shed fresh light on the impact of industrialisation
- Our statement on Fabric
- Legendary London Stone installed at the Museum of London
- Behind the Scenes of the Museum of London
- New Great Fire website to mark 350th anniversary
- Met Police’s Crime Museum revealed at Museum of London
- Hello London, Hello Barbados
- Sir Edward Lister joins Museum of London Board of Governors
- Skeletons: Our Buried Bones
- Another record-breaking year for the Museum of London
- West Smithfield International Design Competition launched
- Stomping Grounds: Dick Scott-Stewart photographs on display
- Museum of London launches new website to increase visits and ticket sales
- Major new gallery at Museum of London Docklands explores history of the world's largest docks
- Museum of London sets the City on fire with second Great Fire 1666 Minecraft map
- Never-before-seen archaeological artefacts from forthcoming exhibition, Fire! Fire! unveiled
- West Smithfield Design Competition shortlist announced
- Stanton Williams and Asif Khan to design new Museum of London at West Smithfield
Designs for Museum of London’s new West Smithfield home revealed
1 July 2019
• The plans showcase the transformation of a campus of beautiful yet dilapidated market buildings in West Smithfield into a world-class, 24-hour cultural destination, with content- rich displays set inside atmospheric exhibition spaces
• Designed by award-winning architectural team, Stanton Williams and Asif Khan with Julian Harrap Architects, the plans secure the future of the West Smithfield buildings and celebrate the historic buildings of West Smithfield, while creating a unique and memorable visitor experience
• The museum is set to become a Top 10 London attraction, capable of welcoming over two million people a year
• The new home of the Museum will allow the creation of a world-class learning centre and be an integral part of the City’s Culture Mile
The Museum of London has unveiled designs for its new home in West Smithfield, with plans to create a new world-class, 24-hour cultural destination in the historic heart of the capital.
The designs go on display within the currently derelict West Smithfield site from Friday 5 July, as well as at the Museum of London’s existing London Wall site. Visitors will be able to see and comment on the latest plans and ambitions for one of the biggest cultural projects underway in Europe, including how the design team, led by Stanton Williams and Asif Khan with Julian Harrap Architects, have celebrated the architecture of the West Smithfield buildings, which are in desperate need of repair and renewal.
With more space to create blockbuster exhibitions with a broader appeal, the museum will recast its relationship with London and Londoners and secure its place as one of the Top 10 attractions in London. The exhibitions would display more of the museum’s amazing collection – showcasing everything from fashion to fatbergs – and would be set inside atmospheric spaces, making use of the historic buildings both above and below the ground.
The plans would also see the museum become a world-class centre for learning and able to fulfil the museum’s ambitions to reach every London school child and enhance their learning experience. In addition and reflecting the 24-hour Farringdon location, the museum will increase its night-time offer, playing a major role in the capital’s night-time economy.
Sharon Ament, Director of the Museum of London, said:
“The new Museum of London will transform what a museum should be as we will become a shared space in the middle of it all, in the middle of London and in the middle of ideas and our shared history. As people will see from our latest design concepts, it will be a totally porous space available night and day to welcome all of London’s visitors. We’ll showcase the London Collection, our 7 million objects, and tell the story of London and Londoners in some of the best examples of British architecture in the city. An integral part of the Culture Mile, the new museum will educate in a world class learning centre, inspire with our high-impact exhibitions and be a space where people come together to relax and reflect in the centre of everything.”
“It’s been remarkable working with such a creative group of architects and designers who have delved deeply into an equally remarkable set of buildings. We’re looking forward to sharing the plans and hearing people’s feedback which we’ll reflect on as we progress into creating more detailed designs in the coming months.”
Catherine McGuinness, Policy Chair, at the City of London Corporation, said:
"The new Museum of London will be a welcome addition to the City of London’s Culture Mile, an asset for Londoners, and undoubtedly a very popular destination for anyone with a thirst for learning about the capital’s rich and vibrant history."
“The arts and culture sector is essential to the Square Mile, not just because it enriches people’s lives, but also because creative businesses contribute a huge amount to the UK’s economy."
Mayor of London, Sadiq Khan, said:
“This spectacular new home for the Museum of London will cement its place as one of our city’s cultural gems and open up the museum at all times of the day. It is a landmark project that will reveal the fascinating history of our city to millions of Londoners and visitors to the capital every year.”
Paul Williams OBE, Principal Director at Stanton Williams, said:
“Working together as a team - Stanton Williams and Asif Khan with Julian Harrap Architects – have been entrusted with one of the biggest projects of cultural reimagining in London – transforming the historically charged but derelict parts of the late 19th century West Smithfield market into a living museum for the 21st century.
In its new home at West Smithfield, the Museum of London will be an anchor for Culture Mile, a major initiative that will create a vibrant destination for culture and creativity at the heart of the city.”
The Museum of London has an updated budget of £332m for the new museum. This responds to the detailed studies on the historic buildings, which date back to the 19th Century, and the increased investment needed to bring them back into use, as well as the design solutions required to adapt them into a world-class museum.
It has already secured a significant amount of funding for the project, including £192m from the City of London Corporation and a capped contribution of £70m from the Mayor of London.
The museum has a fundraising target of £70m and has already raised £26.5m, leaving a further £44m to raise. This includes generous donations of £10m from the Worshipful Company of Goldsmiths and their affiliated Charity, £10m from the Linbury Trust and £5m from The National Lottery Heritage Fund. Global law firm, DLA Piper, is the project’s inaugural Corporate Champion.
The aim is to submit a planning application by the end of 2019, with the opening expected in 2024. Once complete, the new museum would become an integral part of Culture Mile, a partnership led by the City of London Corporation with the Barbican Centre, Guildhall School of Music & Drama, the London Symphony Orchestra and the Museum of London.
-ENDS-
Notes for editors
For more press information please contact:
Laura Bates Assistant Head of Communications Museum of London [email protected] 07966 990 816 | Declan Bennett Account Manager London Communications Agency [email protected] 07952 835 328 |
WHEN: Friday 5 July, 5am-10am Sat 6 July, 10am-4pm Sun 7 July, 10am – 4pm Mon 8 July, 4-8pm | WHERE: Catering Meats, Unit 307, Charterhouse Street, (near the corner of Charterhouse Street and Farringdon Road) London, EC1A 9L |
WHEN: Monday 5 July – onwards | WHERE: Museum of London, 150 London Wall, EC2Y 5HN |
About The Museum of London
The Museum of London tells the ever-changing story of this great world city and its people, from 450,000 BC to the present day. Our galleries, exhibitions, displays and activities seek to inspire a passion for London and provide a sense of the vibrancy that makes the city such a unique place.
The Museum of London is on the move. We want to tell the extraordinary story of London and Londoners in a new museum in West Smithfield, which itself is a deeply fascinating and historic area. We want to engage Londoners with their city and its history and display many more objects from our rich collection. Further information about the move and plans so far: http://museum.london/ #NewMuseum
About the City of London Corporation
The City of London Corporation is the governing body of the Square Mile dedicated to a vibrant and thriving City, supporting a diverse and sustainable London within a globally-successful UK. www.cityoflondon.gov.uk
About Culture Mile
Culture Mile is an ambitious and transformational initiative that will create a vibrant cultural area in the north-west corner of the City over the next 10 to 15 years. Stretching just under a mile from Farringdon to Moorgate, Culture Mile will have creative exchange, cultural collaboration, and learning at its core in an area where 2,000 years of history collide with the world’s best in culture.
About the Goldsmiths’ Company
The Goldsmiths’ Company received its Royal Charter in 1327 and celebrates its 700th anniversary in 2027. One of the twelve major Livery Companies of the City of London, today the purpose of the Goldsmiths' Company is to contribute to national life by supporting its related crafts, industry and trade and through wider charitable and educational activity. The Company’s Assay Office has been responsible since 1300 for testing the quality of precious metals. The Company is the principal patron of contemporary jewellers and silversmiths, continuing to play an important role in support of the craft by funding apprenticeships and assisting with the technical training of aspiring designer-makers. In 2012, the Goldsmiths’ Centre in Clerkenwell was opened, a state-of-the-art facility comprised of workshops, exhibition space and conference facilities.
In addition, The Goldsmiths’ Company Charity supports a range of charitable causes and educational projects with schools and teachers. Read about some of our most recently supported charities here. The Goldsmiths’ Company’s private collection of silver is one of the largest of its kind in the UK, comprising 9,000 items dating from 1300 to the present day. Its contemporary collections are world renowned.
About the design team
The design team comprises of Stanton Williams and Asif Khan, working with the conservation architect Julian Harrap. They won the international design competition to design the new museum at West Smithfield. Their proposed scheme was an outstanding example of London creativity and showed innovative thinking, sensitivity to the heritage of the existing market buildings and an understanding of the practicalities of creating a great museum experience.
Stanton Williams is an award-winning practice, with a reputation for carefully crafted architecture. Founded by Alan Stanton and Paul Williams in 1985, it has successfully completed over 350 architectural, urban design, master-planning, exhibition and interior design projects, winning more than 100 international and regional awards including the 2012 RIBA Stirling Prize. Recent London work has included the ‘Open Up’ project at the Royal Opera House and the UAL Campus for Central St Martins at Kings Cross. www.stantonwilliams.com
Asif Khan is a research and development-led architecture studio who design buildings, landscapes, exhibitions and installations, amongst other things. The practice explores how material and social innovations can fundamentally alter the way people experience and shape their environment. Asif Khan was awarded an MBE for services to Architecture in 2017 and his studio was named ‘Architects of the Year’ by the German Design Council in 2018. He designed the award winning UK Pavilion at Astana Expo in 2017, the Hyundai Pavilion at the PyeongChang 2018 Winter Olympics and is currently working on the Tselinny Centre of Contemporary Culture in Almaty and the Dubai Expo 2020 public realm. www.asif-khan.com
Julian Harrap Architects is a distinguished medium-sized architectural practice specialising in the repair and restoration of historic buildings, estates and landscapes and the design of extensions and new buildings in historic settings. Their projects have included The Monument in the City of London, the Medieval & Renaissance Galleries at the Victoria and Albert Museum, and the Neues Museum in Berlin. www.julianharraparchitects.co.uk