Project Overview
Description
Legacy project: delivered as part of our long-standing arts & heritage portfolio. The Holburne Museum resides at the end of Great Pulteney Street, the widest boulevard in Bath, looking out on the Sydney Heritage Gardens in the UNESCO World Heritage Site of Bath. The project was carried out within these extensive landscaped gardens and included the complete revision to the layouts of the front and rear of the Grade I Listed museum and restoration of the grounds to their original layouts following historic alterations, additions and omissions.
Our role
We were appointed as Project Manager and supported the client through the development and delivery of this major heritage-led scheme. Our role included securing NLHF Round Two funding, procuring and coordinating the design team, and guiding the project through a sensitive balance of conservation, contemporary design and public access requirements. A key challenge was the new build three storey contemporary extension, needed to provide new gallery spaces, education and community facilities, which had to provide over 100% additional floor space without detracting from the beauty and setting of the original building. This was achieved by the use of glass and bespoke ceramic panels to reflect the historic gardens allowing the extension to blend in with its surroundings.
Scope and Outcomes
Prior to the project, the museum’s accessibility was limited and its function as a public museum was not clear from the frontage. Internally, circulation, lighting and environmental conditions were poor, with static displays and limited interpretation. The project included: - Alterations to a nationally significant Grade I listed museum - Contemporary extension to the rear of the Grade I listed building - New gallery spaces with improved environmental conditions - New temporary exhibition galleries to raise the museum’s profile - Creation of café and education spaces to support learning and visitor dwell time Key Outcomes - High-quality permanent and temporary exhibition spaces - Enhanced learning, café and public facilities - Improved accessibility, clarity of public function and visitor circulation - Successful integration of contemporary architecture within a World Heritage setting The scheme enhanced the museum’s ability to refresh its exhibitions, attract new audiences and operate as a fully accessible cultural destination, while respecting its historic setting within the Bath World Heritage Site.
