Expansion of the British Museum in London by Richard Rogers

Thanks to the generous donation from Lord Sainsbury, the British Museum can now enjoy a new wing from Lord Rogers. The northwest extension, which opened this July after seven years of intensive construction work, hosts the new World Conservation and Exhibitions Centre (WCEC). The new building will not serve visitors directly but will significantly improve the operation of the entire museum. It primarily consists of archival and storage spaces associated with specialized restoration workspaces. The entire structure comprises five interconnected pavilions, one of which is completely hidden underground. The extension is largely surrounded by the historic museum building, with the surroundings revealed at only one point. The northern façade overlooking the gardens on Malet Street consists of horizontal glass slats. A dominant stair tower clad in stone slabs rises into the street. The interior rooms are clearly organized according to the well-established principle of serviced (offices, laboratories, restoration workshops) and servicing (corridors, staircases, technical areas) parts. Great emphasis was placed on flexible use and clear operational links during the design. The total cost of constructing the WCEC ultimately amounted to £135 million (4.7 billion CZK).

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