British Museum selects designer to create welcome pavilion

The British Museum has announced that a design team led by Studio Weave has won a competition to redesign its visitor welcome pavilions and forecourt.

The project, part of the national museum’s programme of major capital projects that includes new galleries in its London site and storage and research facilities near Reading, is expected to be completed by spring 2026.

Studio Weave architectural practice is known for its WaterAid Garden at RHS Chelsea Flower Show 2024 as well the award-winning Lea Bridge Library Pavilion.

It will work with Wright & Wright Architects, Webb Yates Engineers, Tom Massey Studio and Daisy Froud to further develop the designs for the spaces, in collaboration with the British Museum and local partners.

“Our proposal aims to resolve complex issues on the site,” said Je Ahn, the founding director of Studio Weave. “The project will preserve the appearance of the historic Grade I listed buildings, address the changing climate and look forward to the future of the institution.

“It will also introduce new soft landscaping and plants, dotted with engaging installations— encouraging curiosity and becoming a memorable highlight of every visit.”

The British Museum design brief asked for “high-quality, flexible and sustainable pavilions and public realm that will improve the welcome experience to the museum”.

It used the Greater London Authority’s Architecture + Urbanism framework, which supports more diverse practices who champion sustainability and design, to shortlist design teams using the “Landscape, Green Infrastructure and Public Realm” pool.

Five teams were each awarded a fixed fee to develop concept designs, which were evaluated before the contract was awarded to the successful candidate. Each team was asked to develop approaches to offsite fabrication and to think about how pavilions might be deconstructed and reused in future.

Nicholas Cullinan, the director of the British Museum, said Studio Weave’s initial proposals was selected due to the way it balanced “a thoughtful visitor experience while remaining true to the British Museum’s historic building”.

Meanwhile, the process for selecting a design team to redevelop the museum’s Western Range of galleries continues. The five teams shortlisted for the project in August have produced visionary approaches for the project, alongside outline designs for a selection of displays.

The responses are now on public display at the Round Reading Room at the British Museum, where visitors have been able to comment on the designs. A jury panel will announce the winning team in spring 2025. 

Alex Surguladze, the head of design management at the British Museum, said: “The new exhibition in the spectacular setting of the Round Reading Room provides a fascinating insight into the working processes of some of the most esteemed architecture practices in the world.”