The Imperial War Museum in London is planning to overhaul its entire exhibition space in Southwark to coincide with the centenary of the First World War.
Their plans are so big that they will need to actually close the museum for the first 6 months of 2013 if they’re given planning permission to move forward with construction.
According to London SE1:
The museum, which now prefers to be known as IWM, has submitted applications for planning permission and listed building consent to Southwark Council for the first phase of its long-term masterplan for the building drawn up by architects Foster & Partners.
Phase 1 is due for completion in time to commemorate the centenary of the outbreak of the First World War in 2014.
“We are excited by this unique opportunity to reinvigorate our flagship branch, IWM London, which last saw significant investment in the late 1980s,” says IWM’s director-general Diane Lees.
“The centenary of the First World War from 2014 to 2018 will be a landmark event for Britain and the world. IWM was founded during the First World War as a lasting memorial to all those who played their part in the conflict.
The new layout will allow the museum to display much more of its First World War collection and will include extra gallery space for exhibitions about contemporary conflicts.
It’s not a done deal yet as the Imperial War Museum needs to get government approval to move forward but I don’t see any reason why the plans would be scuppered. So, if you’re planning a trip to London in the first half of 2013 – keep the IWM out of your plans.
We should add that this won’t affect IWM’s other Museums in London such as the Cabinet War Rooms, Churchill Museum, HMS Belfast, etc.
Author: Jonathan Thomas
Jonathan is a consummate Anglophile who launched Anglotopia.net in 2007 to channel his passion for Britain. Londontopia is its sister publication dedicated to everything London.