Eight consultancies are vying to design the twentieth century gallery at London’s Geffrye Museum extension – designed by Branson Coates – which received a 3.75m National Lottery grant last year (DW 15 December 1995).
Neal Potter Design Associates, Richard Fowler Associates, Bob Baxter of Amalgam, Met Studio, Giles Velarde, 3d Concepts, Event and independent designer John Romayne were interviewed by the east London museum last week.
“We’ll shortlist four consultants and pay them 250 each to come back with ideas. We want drawings but nothing actually designed, just thoughts,” says Geffrye Museum deputy director Christine Lalumia.
The twentieth century gallery is part of the museum’s 1800m2 extension which is due to be completed in 1997.
Branson Coates was appointed as architect in 1992 and is designing a restaurant, shop and temporary exhibition gallery.
The museum plans to visit two projects previously designed by each consultancy to “see exactly what they’ve done”, according to Lalumia, who is looking for “an open and interesting designer with whom we can work closely”.
Furniture and room interiors currently housed at the museum will be moved into the new space. A decision on who will be appointed is expected in May.
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