Manchester Museum reveals £54 million proposals
- Published: 21 November 2007 11:39
- Author: Richard Waite
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- Last Updated: 21 November 2007 13:27
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Manchester's Museum of Science and Industry (MOSI) has unveiled its £54 million redevelopment proposals.
Designed by David Dernie, who heads up the Manchester School of Architecture, the scheme will create a new museum quarter stretching for almost a kilometre from the River Irwell to Ian Simpson's Hilton Tower.
At the heart of the scheme are plans for a new building, featuring translucent, lily-shaped ETFE columns which will funnel rainfall for grey-water use.
According to MOSI, this 2,785m2 building 'will act as a striking new orientation area for the museum [which is spread over 2.5ha].'
One of the four new galleries, dubbed Revolution Manchester, will showcase the industrial and scientific breakthroughs invented within the city.
Describing the scheme Dernie said: 'Revolution MOSI is designed to create a striking, must-see attraction for Manchester, which brings together all the elements of the MOSI experience and links in to other key destinations.
'The building's character was actually first inspired by traditional patterns of weaving – observed in the museum itself – and its design aims to reflect the spaces which are almost carved out of textiles.'
He added: 'It will be a flexible, 21st-century warehouse, with an inventive structure that makes a minimal intrusion on its historic surroundings.'
Funding permitting, the first phase of the project will start on site in 2009.
