Imperial War Museum North
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Exposed steel frame, aluminium-clad museum located on the south bank of Manchester Ship Canal incorporating a bookshop and café into new exhibition spaces
The design concept is that of a globe which has been shattered into 'shards' and then reassembled. The building’s form is the interlocking of three of these fragments which represent earth, air, and water.
The Imperial War Museum North tells the story of how war has affected the lives of British and Commonwealth citizens since 1914
he three shards together are in reference to the Twentieth century conflicts 'which have never taken place on an abstract piece of paper, but rather have been fought by men and women by land, sky and sea'.
The 'Earth Shard' forms the generous and flexible museum space, signifying the open, earthly realm of conflict and war. The 'Air Shard' serves as a dramatic entry into the Museum, with its projected images, observatories and education spaces. The 'Water Shard' forms the platform for viewing the Canal, complete with a restaurant, cafe, deck and performance space.
Data
- Begun: Jan 2000
- Completed: Dec 2001
- Floor area: 6,500m2
- Sector: Arts and culture
- Total cost: £30M
- Funding: Peel Holdings, European Development Fund, English Partnerships North/West Development Agency and the Trafford Metropolitan Borough Council
- Tender date: 1997
- Address: The Quays, Trafford Wharf Road, Manchester, M17 1TZ, United Kingdom
Professional Team
- Architect: Studio Daniel Libeskind
- Project architects: Markus Aerni, Martin Ostermann, Wendy James
- Client: Imperial War Museum North in partnership with the Imperial War Museum London
- Structural engineer: Arup
- Project manager: Gardiner and Theobald
- Mechanical engineer: Mott MacDonald
- Planning supervisor: Gleeds
- Cost consultant: Turner and Townsend
- Exhibition designer: Event and Real Studios
- Main contractor: AELTC