Five architect-led teams compete in final stage of competition with winner due early next year

Image 1_ BM Western Range shortlisted candidates

The shortlist includes (clockwise from top left) 6a Architects, David Chipperfield Architects, Lina Ghotmeh Architects, OMA, Eric Parry Architects and Jamie Fobert Architects

The British Museum has announced a shortlist of five architect-led consultant teams for the second stage of its Western Range architectural competition.

The selected team will work closely with British Museum experts to develop designs for the Western Range, taking into consideration the museum鈥檚 historic buildings, decarbonisation goals and approach to the display and care of collections.

The Western Range encompasses a third of the museum鈥檚 gallery space, alongside significant back-of-house areas, covering 15,650 square metres.

George Osborne, chair of the British Museum, said: 鈥淭he redevelopment of the British Museum is one of the biggest projects of our time.

鈥淲e asked for the best of the architectural community to step forward to help - and they have, from Britain and across the world. The shortlist we鈥檝e chosen mixes renowned experience with exciting new voices. We couldn鈥檛 have asked for more.鈥�

The five shortlisted teams include prominent British and international architects, supported by a range of consultants.

The shortlisted teams are:

6a Architects

Collaborators: Advanced Integrated Solutions, Arup, David Bonnett Associates, Gitta Gschwendtner, Kellenberger-White, London School of Architecture, Purcell, Studio ZNA

David Chipperfield Architects

Collaborators: AEA Consulting, Adamson Associates, Alan Baxter Associates, Arup, Atelier Br眉ckner, Atelier Ten, Lobe Lloyd, Julian Harrap Architects, Plan A, Reusefully, Neal Shasore

Eric Parry Architects and Jamie Fobert Architects

Collaborators: Buro Happold, David Bonnett Associates, Max Fordham, Mima, Price & Myers, Purcell, Space Syntax, Studio ZNA

Lina Ghotmeh 鈥� Architecture

Collaborators: Ali Cherri, Arup, Holmes Studio, Plan A, Purcell

OMA

Collaborators: Arup, Benoy, Cookies, Ducks Sc茅no, EQ2 Light, Purcell, Salvatore Settis, Studio ZNA

The second stage of the competition will run until December, culminating in a display of the shortlisted candidates鈥� entries in the museum鈥檚 Round Reading Room. The winner will be announced in early 2025.

Nicholas Cullinan, director of the British Museum, added: 鈥淭hese five teams have strong resumes and demonstrate the qualities we need for the Western Range project which is both an architectural as well as intellectual transformation of the British Museum. This is a career-defining opportunity for the final team and I am excited for the next stage of the competition and the conversation and collaboration to come from this once in a lifetime brief.鈥�

Image 2_ Aerial image of the BM 漏 The Trustees of the British Museum

Source: The Trustees of the British Museum

Aerial view of the British Museum

Stage two of the competition will involve a day-long charrette with the museum team, alongside various design exercises.

The judging panel, chaired by Osborne, will include Yvonne Farrell, Meneesha Kellay, Mahrukh Tarapor, Sarah Younger, Mark Jones, and Nicholas Cullinan. Museum trustees Tracey Emin, Charlie Mayfield, and Alejandro Santo Domingo will also participate in the evaluation.

The competition is part of a broader masterplan project, aimed at restoring and renovating the British Museum鈥檚 Camden site, extending to new locations and ensuring that its collection is housed in facilities appropriate for the 21st century.

Current projects include the newly completed British Museum Archaeological Research Facility in Reading, and a new energy centre for the Bloomsbury site, which will phase out the use of fossil fuels.

The museum has confirmed it will remain open to the public throughout the works on the masterplan.

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