BIG
We consider the grounds in front of the Natural History Museum to be a new public realm linking the museum with the city of London and beyond. Creating a diverse landscape of learning and leisure around the museum�s core tenets, the intervention brings the museum into the exterior public realm, creating a narrative that mirrors the interior timeline of the museum as it was originally conceived by Richard Owen. Within this landscape glazed pavilions house a new programme that seamlessly knit the grounds� functions with those of the Museum. Within the new landscape functional solutions are offered regarding accessibility, ticketing, and queuing. We emphasise the historical importance of Alfred Waterhouse�s Romanesque design by proposing a simple linear gesture that picks up its characteristic half-arches in a contemporary expression that generates a playful atmosphere attracting visitors of all ages to discover the treasures of the Museum.