Opening on 12 June after extensive refurbishment by architects Wright & Wright, the Museum of the Home in Hoxton, east London, is ready to show off its makeover. The institution, which is located in a low-lying brick architecture complex of 300-year-old almshouses and lush architectural gardens, has been redesigned to bring contemporary elements to the historical buildings, proposing an exciting and informative experience for visitors of all ages.
But Wright & Wright's reimagining is not just about restoring what's already there. The new design creates 80 per cent more exhibition space and 50 per cent more public areas. A brand new entrance, opposite Hoxton rail station, and two garden pavilions are part of its much needed transformation. There is extended gallery space across three levels and a new Collections Library and Study Room.
‘In our scheme the consolidation of the historic building fabric and addition of distinguishably contemporary new elements has proved crucial to unlocking the project,' explain the architects. ‘Originally, the almshouses were designed as a collection of cellular residences, but over the years, walls and floors were removed or punched through to accommodate visitor circulation. Though this enabled the building to operate as a museum, it also had the effect of compromising its structural integrity.’ They add: ‘[Now, with] its careful reuse of resources and use of energy going forward, it is a genuinely sustainable solution.’
Wright & Wright’s architectural intervention ‘reflects a reframed curatorial approach’, say the institution's representatives. Their goal is for the Museum of the Home to appeal to a wider audience and offer more diversity in the domestic issues they address through their overall programme. Creating more immersive, accessible shows is at the core of the museum's new strategy. ‘As history persuasively shows, the idea of home is ever‐changing, and so are we,' conclude the architects.
The Museum of the Home is dedicated to exploring the meaning of home and the domestic through permanent collections, exhibitions, performances, discussions, and events.
INFORMATION
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