The British Museum is a grade one listed building and home to over two million years of human history. Today it stands as a mixture of architectural styles as the museum’s collections expanded and needs changed over time.
Students in the Great Court of the British Museum © Alys Tomlinson
In 1754 the trustees of the British Museum had acquired Montagu House in Bloomsbury, London. Following fire damage in 1686 the house was restored in the French style of architecture and was considered one of the finest buildings in London.
In the early 1800’s the first extension, the Townley Gallery, was built in the Palladian style of architecture as an extension to provide a space for classical sculpture and Egyptian antiquities.
The Smirke building (designed by Robert Smirke in 1823) was complete in 1852, constructed in the Greek revival style and included the great south front, this has now became the core of the British Museum. The Townley Gallery was demolished in the 1840’s to make way for this new building.
The Great Court is the most recent architectural intervention to the British Museum. Designed by Sir Norman Foster and opened in 2000, the refurbishment created a light and open space in an area that had previously been closed to the public. Contemporary influences, including the installation of a transparent roof, were used alongside traditional features of neoclassical architecture to construct the glass covered dome.
The Museum is about to embark on another renovation to transform the North West corner of the site. Still in the planning stage in June 2009, the building will provide a state of the art conservation and science centre with a dedicated gallery for special exhibitions. The new build aims to help the museum to become more environmentally sustainable and efficient, due to be completed at the end of 2012.
Architectural style
An historic building with Greek revival, neo-classical and modern architectural features.
Quirky facts
- The original buildings of the British Museum took 24 years to build.
- The British Museum celebrated its 250th anniversary in 2003 with the restoration of the King’s Library, the Museum’s oldest room.
- The glass roof of the Great Court has a circular hole in the middle and is often likened to a donut.
The Great Court, British Museum © Alys Tomlinson
Building highlights
- The British Museum is an exemplar cultural space, comprising the White Wing, King Edward VII’s galleries, the Parthenon galleries, the New Wing, and the Great Court.
- The Museum has a total of 94 gallery spaces and public services, including a restaurant and an education centre, which is located below the courtyard.
- The construction of the Great Court involved extensive re-facing of the existing buildings and the construction of 20 concrete-filled steel columns to support the roof.
Using the British Museum as a teaching resource
As an historic building and modern public space, the British Museum can be used to support teaching and learning across a range of subjects, including history, art and design, English and maths.
- A visit to the British Museum can be used to learn about historic buildings and the value of building preservation.
- The Great Court is an example of how cultural spaces can be designed and renovated to enhance public participation.
- An exploration of the British Museum can be used to show how good design can combine historic and contemporary architecture.
Suggested activities
Key stage 3 – Art and design, history
Imagine you have been invited to use the British Museum as a creative space to explore European history. This could involve staging a performance in the domed space of the Great Court, or constructing a piece of informative public art in the green or grey space surrounding the Museum. Which space would you choose and how would you use it to promote learning?
Key stage 3 – English
Choose a period in the history of the British Museum building. For example, the date when Montagu House was purchased or when the Parthenon galleries were constructed. Write a newspaper article about the construction, opening and use of this part of the building.
Key stage 2 – Maths
The British Museum building and internal gallery spaces display a range of architectural styles from the past 250 years, ranging from Palladian, Neo-classical and Modern. Make a list of the main features of these periods of architecture, such as the façades, use of materials, windows and staircases. Draw the patterns and shapes that can be seen in buildings of this architectural type.
Region
London
Location
The British Museum
Great Russell Street
London WC1B 3DG
School access
The British Museum is open daily from 10am until 5pm. The British Museum runs an extensive education programme visit their website for more details.
Related resources
Can’t get to the museum? The British Museum website hosts a range of free online resources and tours!
Visit the explore section for online tours including, London 1753 (the year the Museum was founded).
The learning section hosts various web resources specifically designed for students. Discover architectural features of Taj Mahal in the Mughal India resource, explore buildings and cities of ancient civilizations, see images of the Great Wall of China, and learn about ancient Egyptian pyramids.
Or learn more about the history and architecture of the British Museum online.
