Space for display and astonishing views of the interior
London Regional Award 2019
MUMA LLP for Westminster Abbey
Contract value: Undisclosed
GIA: 900m²
The galleries are the first major addition to Westminster Abbey in more than 250 years. Created in the Triforium, seven storeys above the abbey’s nave, they provide space for display and astonishing views of the interior. Within this special context, MUMA felt that creating a modern museum display – the technology, environmental and light control, lighting, interpretation and showcases, should not undermine the quality of this space. 3-D mapping helped identify sunlight patterns so the Triforium’s gothic windows could be left uncovered. This, coupled with discrete lighting control, has informed the positioning of artefacts, avoiding a deliberate, low-light gallery environment. Designed with a real sense of craftmanship combined with a contemporary aesthetic, MUMA’s interventions show a practice exploiting its best skills to deliver a scheme of real quality within a truly unique setting.