Each of the designs illustrate what the new museum could look like and embrace a wide range of interpretations, all of which demonstrate ‘high quality, creative ideas and innovation for this exciting project’. The 25,000 sq m site includes Smithfield General Market, the Fish Market, the Red House and the Engine House and has a £130-150m construction budget.

The winning architects will work with the museum to refine their ideas to ensure they sensitively balance the history of the site with the museum’s ambition and that the look and feel of the new museum embodies London.

“Every time I visit Smithfield I come away buzzing with ideas and the energy of the place,” Sharon Ament, Director of the Museum of London. “It is clear from their concepts for a new museum that the architectural teams have been equally captivated by Smithfield’s vivid history and vibrant character. These six concepts which suggest a fascinating range of options will give the jury plenty to consider when deciding upon an architect to work with us to design the new museum.”

The shortlisted entries will be judged by a panel of well-known figures from the worlds of the arts, media, property, architecture and business, chaired by television and radio presenter, Evan Davis and has recently welcomed a new member, journalist, author and broadcaster, Sir Simon Jenkins. The winning team is expected to be announced later this summer.

The Museum of London’s objectives are to double the one million a year visitors and show never-before-seen artefacts from its collection, which are currently in storage due to space constraints.

Funded by the Mayor of London through a £200,000 grant, the international design competition is being run by Malcolm Reading Consultants (MRC) on behalf of the Museum of London in accordance with European Union procurement guidelines under the Restricted Procedure.

The museum intends to submit a planning application for the West Smithfield site to the City of London Corporation in 2017 and to deliver the new museum by 2021

The designs will now go on display at an exhibition at the Museum of London, from 10 June to 5 August, 10am – 6pm daily, to give the public an opportunity to view the designs and learn more about the museum’s plans to move to West Smithfield.

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Design concepts have been submitted by:

  • BIG – Bjarke Ingels Group (DK) with Hawkins\Brown, Donald Insall and Gehl Architects
  • Caruso St John Architects (UK) with Alan Baxter Associates
  • Diener & Diener Architekten (CH) with Sergison Bates Architects, East Architecture and Graphic Thought Facility
  • Lacaton & Vassal Architects (FR) with Pernilla Ohrstedt Studio, Allies and Morrison and Alan Baxter Associates
  • Stanton Williams (UK) with Asif Khan, Julian Harrap, J&L Gibbons and Plan A
  • studio Milou architecture (FR) with RL& Associés, Axis Architects and Alan