The design rethinks the ten buildings that make up the Western Range – which have been added to ω Smirke’s design over the last 190 years – as a coherent experience. Looking at the models and drawings in Lina’s light-filled Paris studio offers a glimpse into her ambitious vision. Buff-coloured stone in various textures encases the soaring gallery space, which is spread across multiple vertical tiers. Lit by clerestory openings that flood it with light, the ground floor doubles as an agora edged with seating and arched colonnades. Above, balconies lined with historical objects overlook a central display area. There are also research facilities and conservation labs.
A moodboard with ideas for the concept.
Stephanie Fuessenich
Now in the advanced design development stages, the project is billed as one of the biggest cultural renovations anywhere in the world, and will reportedly cost around £1 billion – the tallest of poppies at a time when some of the nation’s most influential cultural institutions, like the National Gallery and Tate, are faced with financial losses and funding cuts. The British Museum’s approach – self-generated income that encompasses sponsorships, celebrity-heavy fundraisers, and private donations – seems to be working. The Pink Ball raised £2.5 million last year, and a partnership with BP brings in £50 million over ten years.
Adding to the scrutiny is the controversy surrounding the artefacts for which Lina is building a new home: many view works such as the Parthenon Sculptures (5th century BC), the Rosetta Stone (196 BC) and the Benin Bronzes (16th to 17th century) as vestiges of Britain’s colonial past – and believe they should be returned to the countries from which they were taken.
Lina in her light-filled office.
Stephanie Fuessenich
‘I think, because I grew up in Lebanon – a place that is full of contradictions and conflict – I can see the many complexities,’ says Lina of the collection, a significant chunk of which connects to her own culture. ‘What I have found inspiring during this collaboration is how the British Museum team is open to difficult conversations, and is willing to think about the collection in a way that demonstrates these intricacies. Our design makes room for new perspectives, as we join the dots between creativity from different parts of the world and explore how culture is evolving’.