THE BRITISH MUSEUM
1675
Montagu House built by Robert Hooke, Operator to the Royal Society (Anderson, 2009, p15).
The original museum was set up in Montagu House, a large mansion which originally occupied the site (Anderson, 2009, p14).
The musem was set up by an act of parliament.
1753
1759
The Museum opened its doors to the public in January 1759 (Anderson, 2009, p15).
1802
The growing size of the museums collections leads to the museum being expanded northwards into the gardens (Anderson, 2009, p15).
1808
George Saunders' Townley Gallery is completed (Anderson, 2009, p15).
1816
Renowned architect Sir Robert Smirke recommended building two parallel wings to house the growing collections (Anderson, 2009, p15).
1823
Sir Robert Smirke devised the concept of the quadrangle with one of the sides compromising od Montagu House which would later be demolished to allow for a new southern building (Anderson, 2009, p15).
1846
Sydney Smirke took over from his brother as principle architect of the museum (Anderson, 2009, p15). In this year Sydney Smirke designed the Weston Hall.
1876
The courtyard suffered many unsympathetic alterations. In 1876 the inner portico of the south facade was demolished to extend the front entrance hall (Anderson, 2009, p26).
1890
Museum realised they could no longer meet the changing demands and fulfil ambitions "without substantial building developments" to the museum (Anderson, 2009, p26).
1920
A fourth storey was added to the south-east book stack to provide more storage. This put more strain on the iron structure (Anderson, 2009, p15).
1936
John Markha designed a scheme for mezzanine floors in the north facade which involved enlarging the windows on this facade (Anderson, 2009, p15).
1941
The south-east quadrant was hit by a incendiary bomb and was later rebuilt in the 1950's. (Anderson, 2009, p30).
1969
The museum was attracting up to 2 million visitors per year (Anderson, 2009, p35).
2000
The Great Court was opened and dedicagted to Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II. Through detailed planning the museum stayed open throughout the works (Anderson, 2009, p8)
1852
Panizzi's preliminary plans for a reading room worked up into an architectural scheme by Sydney Smirke. The design compromised of a drum shape with a dome on top which was placed centrally in the courtyard and adopted by the museum Trustees. The creation was one of the most renowned interiors in the world with the courtyard surrounding becoming lost and forgotten (Anderson, 2009, pp22-23).
Charles Barry proposed roofing over the courtyard with a glass canopy supported on fifty pillars to form a 'Hall of Antiques' (Anderson, 2009, p22).
The orginal building burnt down and was rebuilt by Frenchman, Puget (Anderson, 2009, p15).
1686
2014
The World Conservation and Exhibitions Centre by Rogers Stirk Harbour + Partners (RSHP)
1993
The museum began making plans for the Great Court Building programme (Anderson, 2009, p8).
The museums trustees and staff demanded the highest quality. This demand was met by Foster & Partners who realised their vision of creating a "memorable but modern building that would blend with the splendour of Sir Robert Smirke's Neo-Grecian temple of antiques" (Anderson, 2009, p14)
The project would be funded by lottery funds and private benefactors (Anderson, 2009, p8)
1857
The Reading Room was finished in this year (British Museum, 2016)
Smirke and Barry's schemes used iron as a building material for its ability to span long distances and possibilities of prefabrication. It had been used previously but was a relatively unused material. For its time the Reading Room was a daring design with a diameter of 42.6m which was supported by twenty two iron ribs spaced equidistantly around its circumference. These were supported by a concrete foundation (Anderson, 2009, p25). Other innovative techniques such as the latest heating and ventilation systems were also used to create the masterpiece.
Charles Barry proposed roofing over the courtyard with a glass canopy supported on fifty pillars to form a 'Hall of Antiques' (Anderson, 2009, p22).
1882
The White Wing, designed by architect Sir John Taylor was constructed 1882-5. The building was designed to the bequest of William White, who requested that the building had a monumental entrance and an inscription (British Museum, 2016)
1931
The Duveen Gallery was consructed for the Parthenon sculptures which was funded by Sir Joseph Duveen. The gallery was designed by American architect John Russell Pope. The gallery was completed in 1939 but not opened untin 1962 due to damage during the Second World War (British Museum, 2016)
BUILDING TIMELINE:
1850
After taking 25 years to construct, Sir Robert Smirke's edifice and quadrangle was complete.
The building was constructed in the fashionable Greek Revival style, an innovative choice of style for museum design. The columns of the portico are thought to have been inspired by the temple of Athena Polias (Anderson, 2009, pp15-21)
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