London & South East

More to explore at The Science Museum

Media Space- The Science Museum, London

Work to create a new media space on the second floor of The Science Museum, London continues to make great progress.

The £4 million project comprises the creation of a 525 sq meter gallery; a multi-functional Virgin Media Studio capable of hosting events and exhibitions; and a social space which includes a cafe/bar. Ben Kelly Design is the architect on the impressive project, whilst Elmwood is the main contractor.

The creation of the new media space is part of the Science Museum’s masterplan, which looks to improve and enhance the museum’s offering to visitors. In addition to the installation of new facilities, access is also being improved, making it even easier for visitors to move around the museum and get the most out of their experience.

Media Space- The Science Museum, London

Work began on the Media Space project in August 2011 and is scheduled to reach completion in September 2013. Once complete, Media Space will showcase the National Photography Collection held by the National Media Museum, through a series of major exhibitions.

The first major exhibition to be held at Media Space will be the Only in England exhibit, which presents photographs by Tony Ray-Jones and Martin Parr. Only in England will be curated by Greg Hobson, curator of photographs at the National Media Museum.

Discussing the new facilities for the Science Museum, Patrick McKinney, the Design Director at Ben Kelly Design, said:

“This is a major project for the Science Museum, which aims to explore the relationship between visual media, technology and science. Once complete the work that is being undertaken will provide the museum with a world class suite of facilities.

“The creation of the new gallery is the driving force of the project, however all the other elements of the scheme are an equally important and integral part of the project.

“The cafe/bar will give visitors somewhere to relax, discuss and debate what they have seen in the gallery, creating a more enjoyable experience overall. The cafe/bar will also be open during evenings when specific events are taking place, so it will become a very important facility within the museum.”

Media Space- The Science Museum, London

The new Media Space has been expertly designed so that visitors to the museum will see its presence as a focal point of the London attraction. Ben Kelly Design has created an interior design which enhances what the museum already has to offer, whilst at the same time presenting a fresh and enticing new space.

Patrick commented:

“Media space is an easily definable area of the museum and has been designed so that it does not look like anything else within the building. The design is very sophisticated and looks towards the adult visitors of the museum more so than the other areas of the building which have a broader appeal.”

Founded in 1857 as part of the South Kensington Museum, The Science Museum is world renowned for its historic collections, magnificent galleries and engaging exhibitions. The Science Museum houses more than 300,000 objects, with a particular focus on the history of western science, technology and medicine since 1700 and records the Industrial Revolution, as well as medical artefacts from all periods and cultures.

Media Space- The Science Museum, London

Located on Exhibition Road, The Science Museum is open 10am to 6pm and until 7pm during school holidays.

For more information about The Science Museum, please visit: www.sciencemuseum.org.uk.

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