Museum of the Home

 

Museum of the Home

We were involved as the lead structural engineers in realising the Museum’s major masterplan which was committed to making the Museum more immersive and appeal to a wider audience. Completed in 2021, the £18.1m project preserved the building, freed up space for display and study, generated 80% more exhibition space, and doubled the overall public space on offer, with no commensurate increase in its energy requirements.

We designed two new buildings linked to the existing for new conference spaces as well as reorganised the museum entrances to accommodate the anticipated shift in movement created by the opening of Hoxton Overground Station to the rear of the site.

Altogether, our work includes a Conservation Management Plan and providing conservation, structural engineering and transport advice for the site, which includes Grade I listed almshouses.

The project went on to win a RIBA London Award and be shortlisted for a Civic Trust Award. It was also shortlisted as one of four projects for the RIBA's inaugural Reinvention Award. This new award recognises achievement in the creative reuse of existing buildings through transformative projects that improve environmental, social, or economic sustainability. The RIBA said that "the four shortlisted buildings are all commended as exceptional examples of creative reuse, but the judges also note that each project demonstrates how innovative architecture can help to address wider societal issues."

“I can’t wait to welcome visitors, old and new, next summer to explore the Museum of the Home and to celebrate this new chapter in the Museum’s history. Our new displays, spaces and stories will be a starting point for ideas and conversation about what home means.”
- Sonia Solicari, Director, Museum of the Home


Awards:

  • The Meyvaert Museum Prize for environmental Sustainability (European Museum of the Year Awards 2024).

  • RIBA London Awards 2023 - Winner

  • RIBA Reinvention Awards 2023 - Shortlisted

  • Hackney Design Awards 2022, Heritage and Restoration Awards (Refurbishment & Restoration) - Winner

  • Hackney Design Awards 2022, Extension Award - Shortlisted

  • Hackney Design Awards 2022, Landscape & Public Realm Award - Shortlisted

  • IStructE Awards, 2022 - Shortlisted

  • Museum & Heritage Awards, Sustainable Project of the Year - Highly Commended

  • Architects Journal Architecture Awards 2022 - Shortlisted

  • AJ Retrofit Awards 2022 - Shortlisted

  • Civic Trust Awards 2023 - Regional Finalist

WATCH:
Sonia Solicari discusses the Museum of the Home project and what it means for the future of the building.

Video courtesy of Wright and Wright Architects

 

Client: Museum of the Home
Architect: Wright & Wright Architects