The British Museum, originally designed by Robert Smirke, was designed with a garden and promenade in the middle of the building.
Later, in the mid-19th century, shelves and reading rooms were built in the middle area, which became the museum’s library. In 1997, the library, originally located in the atrium of the British Museum, was relocated to the British Library in King’s Cross.
After the reading space being removed, the remaining space was the result of a competition involving over 130 proposals, which was awarded to the UK’s leading architects, Foster + Partners. With a total budget of £100 million, the building continues Foster + Partners’ experience of designing the German Parliament in Berlin, the atrium of the British Museum, which is also designed with a glass and steel frame.
“The glazed canopy that makes all this possible is a fusion of state-of-the-art engineering and economy of form. Its unique geometry is designed to span the irregular gap between the drum of the Reading Room and the courtyard facades, and forms both the primary structure and the framing for the glazing, which is designed to reduce solar gain. As a cultural square, the Court also resonates beyond the confines of the museum, forming a new link in the pedestrian route from the British Library to Covent Garden, the river and the South Bank. To complement this artery, the Museum’s forecourt was restored to form a new civic space. Together with the Great Court, it is a major new amenity for London.” – Fost + Partners
It is my belief that the design of the great hall is an architectural miracle; it is a perfect synthesis of traditional Roman architecture with modern architecture. I believe users could notice a profound change in mood and atmosphere as soon as they entered the great hall. It is so magnificent that people suddenly lower their voices when entering the great hall. It is likely that an immaculate space would make people feel more serious, more cautious, and more formal, which would mean you had to be cautious about what you did with the space (outside of being cautious about breaking an artifact).
Considering my project is about a cafe focusing on natural elements, recycled materials, sustainability, and environmentally friendly materials, my objective is to study how ancient people designed their interiors using the most natural elements and techniques. In particular, I am interested in seeing how ancient craftsmen used clay, tiles, and natural fabrics to design their space. As I observed in the British Museum, tiles have been used quite frequently through history for everything from paving in a merchant’s house to decorative art on the walls of a church. It is particularly evident in Medieval Europe that tiles were designed and painted with patterns and arts for decorative purposes and to tell stories.
The following is a group of beautifully crafted tiles that date back to the 13th century in England. Several combat scenes involving men and lions were intended to glorify Richard I’s (King of England) reputation through imagery.
Another example is a set of tile pavements from the 15th century found in Leicestershire. Based on the marks on the tile, it could be determined as the mark of a merchant back in 1450 to 1525.
Across different cultures and eras, you can see how ancient artists and craftsmen created tiles in a different manner, which is quite intriguing to see and to consider what the artists and craftsmen were thinking during those days.
It was quite interesting to see how ancient English craftsmen handled clay, pottery, and tiles. Humans have never ceased to explore the boundaries of tiles or any other building material even today. For instance, as part of my preliminary research into the emerging business, I have chosen to focus on a cafe and its byproduct, coffees. An innovative designer from the United Kingdom, Atticus Durnell, has created a range of products made from recycled coffee grounds, from tiles to furniture.
As a final note, I believe that a visit to the British Museum is an interesting experience to see how ancient people designed their space. As an individual, I would be even more impressed if they were able to tell us more about how ancient craftsmen made the artifacts or how archaeologists discovered them.