The fully accessible new building will encourage military-civilian integration, provide educational opportunities and promote Salisbury Plain’s legacy. Purcell, as architects and design team leaders, will design and coordinate the project from inception to completion, following the RIBA Plan of Work 2013 Stages 2-7.
The main museum building will include extensive indoor exhibition space, a shop, restaurant, support areas and visitor amenities. The outdoor areas will include a display arena with viewing terraces, an extensive trench system, a cafe, children’s play area, a community garden for reflection, activity areas with an assault course and a processional avenue.
Describing the design concept, the “Placing a major new museum on Salisbury Plain in the context of over 5,000 years of human history is both a fabulous opportunity and a serious responsibility,” said project lead and Purcell Partner Alasdair Travers. “From our first visit we have been inspired by the sheltering nature of the land and the shifting character of the sky and how our designs can bring these two elements together.”
Purcell is highly regarded for their heritage and design work within sensitive and complex sites. The practice has previously completed high profile projects at the National Museum of the Royal Navy in Portsmouth, Tudor House Museum in Southampton, Wells Cathedral, the National Maritime Museum Greenwich and Tower Bridge.
“We have consciously held a balance: avoiding an excessively intrusive intervention into the landscape, while providing a strong new design to house an internationally significant collection in an extraordinary setting,” said Project Architect Richard Woods.
