British Museum, London

01/05/2022 | BGT | Reference

Constructed in the early 19th century, the British Museum is one of London’s most popular tourist attractions. The four-winged building includes an inner atrium the size of a football pitch, which was fitted with a self-supporting glass roof during renovations in 2002. The atrium has been the museum’s centrepiece ever since, and now contains galleries, shops and a restaurant.

The renovation plans were drawn up by Foster + Partners.

The new glazed roof comprises more than 3,300 triangular panels of differing sizes, which sit directly on the supports of the steel structure. The overhead glazing was subject to particular requirements with regard to sun protection and glare-free illumination of the room below. The glass solution developed in collaboration between BGT and Okalux meets these demands with a combination of special glass thicknesses, a pyrolytic coating and screen-printing.

Architect:
Foster + Partners

Quantity/glass:
5,900 m² insulating glass

Completed:
2002