Neptune Court, Greenwich Maritime Museum
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Aerial view of the museum
James Morris (website) Download Original
Conservation of existing building and addition of internal courtyard at the National Maritime Museum, Greenwich
In order to resolve the Museum's orientation, display and circulation problems, Rick Mather Architects chose to cover an existing courtyard with Europe's largest free-span glazed roof. This new central 'square' unifies the layout producing clear and legible routes through the museum.
The triumphal arch of the north facade is transformed as the museum’s new main entrance, allowing visitors direct access to the courtyard. Within the surrounding buildings, ten new galleries were created and all levels made fully accessible by the addition of corner circulation cores.
Cumbersome additions to Sir Philip Hardwick's original scheme were removed and the original neo-classical facades restored, based on records held by the museum.
Data
- Completed: May 1999
- Floor area: 7,700m2
- Sector: Arts and culture
- Total cost: £2M
- Funding: Heritage Lottery Fund
- Address: National Maritime Museum, Romney Rd, Greenwich, London, SE10 9NF, United Kingdom
Professional Team 
- Architect: Rick Mather Architects, BDP
- Project architects: Rick Mather, Tim Williams
- Client: Trustees of the National Maritime Museum
- Masterplanner and Lead Consultant: BDP
- Structural engineer: BDP
- Services engineer: BDP
- Lighting engineer: BDP
- Cost consultant: BDP
- Exhibition designer: Jasper Jacob Associates
- Construction manager: Bovis Lehrer McGovern