There’s a heck of lot going on beneath the streets of our city. And someone, well… somewhere that knows that better than anybody is the London Museum. The former Museum of London is in the process of converting two historic buildings in Smithfield Market into its shiny new home, having waved goodbye to its beloved (but notoriously difficult to locate) Barbican site in 2022.
Development plans were created and construction work actually began a fair few years before the museum closed its Barbican doors. But in 2019 – less than a year into the rather hefty £437 million process – a series of surreptitious Victorian vaults were uncovered beneath the building. Which meant that the museum had to have a slight change of plan.
The Smithfield site’s original building plans had indicated that there were some underground spaces located beneath. But the vastness of the vaults that were uncovered came as quite a shock to the architectural team. The discovery required them to reconsider construction plans – taking the newly-discovered vaults into account. Financial restrictions meant that there was a point in which the museum was considering leaving the vaults unused. But additional funding was secured to restore and transform the vaults. And it’s now been confirmed the subterranean structures will be used as an immersive exhibition space.
London Museum is now seeking a design team to help bring the unique space to life. A £350,000 tender has been released to find a team that can create an immersive and accessible exhibition within the 800 square-metre vaults. The appointed team will need to include a lead designer, a 3D designer, a graphic designer, expertise in integrating audio-visual elements, and various other specialists.
The first phase of the museum’s construction is due to be complete in July 2026. The London Museum development is one of the most ambitious cultural projects taking place in the capital city over the next decade. The completed building will boast a whole host of exhibition spaces, alongside an events and live performance hub, and a selection of restaurants and shops. The second phase of the development is set for 2028.
