Designs for National Railway Museum's Central Hall Unveiled

John Hill | 13. February 2020
Image courtesy of Malcolm Reading Consultants

The five teams, listed below, were shortlisted in November 2019, selected from 76 teams in the open two-stage competition. In alphabetical order:

  • 6a architects (UK) and OFFICE Kersten Geers David Van Severen (Belgium)
  • Atelier d’Architecture Philippe Prost (France)
  • Carmody Groarke (UK)
  • Feilden Fowles (UK)
  • heneghan peng architects (Ireland)

The Central Hall is one piece of the museum's masterplan for 2025, also encompassing a new Wonderlab and other transformations to its existing buildings. The £16.5 million Central Hall will include reception spaces and a new gallery, but most importantly it will connect the museum's previously disconnected exhibition halls, enabled by diverting Leeman Road, which previously bisected the museum's properties.

National Railway Museum masterplan: Central Hall is #3. (Image courtesy of Wilkinson Eyre/Gustafson, Porter & Bowman)

The winning design for the Central Hall will be announced in March as determined by a jury (listed below). Between now and February 23, the public can comment on the designs at the museum, online, or via email.

The jury:

  • Dame Mary Archer DBE, (Chair), Chair of the Board of Trustees, Science Museum Group
  • Sir Ian Blatchford FSA, Director and Chief Executive, Science Museum Group
  • Gitta Gschwendtner, Director, Gitta Gschwendtner Design Consultancy
  • Zoe Laughlin, Director, Institute of Making
  • Karen Livingstone, Director of Masterplan and Estate, Science Museum Group
  • Judith McNicol, Director, National Railway Museum
  • Michael Squire, Senior Partner, Squire and Partners
  • Malcolm Reading, Competition Director (Jury Adviser)

6a architects and OFFICE Kersten Geers David Van Severen (Image © Malcolm Reading Consultants / 6a architects and OFFICE Kersten Geers David Van Severen)
6a architects and OFFICE Kersten Geers David Van Severen (Image © Malcolm Reading Consultants / 6a architects and OFFICE Kersten Geers David Van Severen)

Atelier d’Architecture Philippe Prost (Image © Malcolm Reading Consultants / Atelier d’Architecture Philippe Prost)
Atelier d’Architecture Philippe Prost (Image © Malcolm Reading Consultants / Atelier d’Architecture Philippe Prost)

Carmody Groarke (Image © Malcolm Reading Consultants / Carmody Groarke)
Carmody Groarke (Image © Malcolm Reading Consultants / Carmody Groarke)

Feilden Fowles (Image © Malcolm Reading Consultants / Feilden Fowles)
Feilden Fowles (Image © Malcolm Reading Consultants / Feilden Fowles)

heneghan peng architects (Image © Malcolm Reading Consultants / heneghan peng architects)
heneghan peng architects (Image © Malcolm Reading Consultants / heneghan peng architects)

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