David was asked by the trustees of Crystal Palace Museum to investigate architectural solutions for a series of interventions within the museum. The aim, to protect the valuable assets of the museum and provide greater, more accessible access for all.
The museum is sited within the grounds of the Crystal Palace Park and within the Crystal Palace Conservation Area. It is custodian of many protected structures and artefacts of the Crystal Palace. These include the remnants of the Brunel designed North Tower, a Grade II Listed structure, the School of Engineering, now the Museum building and the Time Keeper’s Gatehouse, originally associated with the on-site workshops.
David highlighted that the circulation route through the museum building and its connection to the surrounding context has been altered with use over the years, losing visual connections with the context and making orientation less intuitive in use.
The proposed works required are an opportunity to address the issues, peeling away layers of the building and realign the original access route, which connected to the North Tower.
David proposed a masterplan encompassing the new works under and would inform any future development proposals. The masterplan would also act as an organising structure within an overall strategy for the site, that allowing projects to be implemented in stages as opportunities allow. The masterplan, specific to the museum would fall within the umbrella of overall strategic plan for Crystal Palace Park.
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