British Museum building plans ‘like a wine bar’, say opponents

New security buildings in the grounds of the British Museum would look “too flashy” and resemble “a shop and wine bar”, opponents to the plans have said.

The central London attraction wants to replace anti-terrorism marquees near its entrance with two new blocks and convert its front lawn into a “Mediterranean” botanical exhibit.

The museum’s trust said the new pavilions would make the site more welcoming by cutting waiting times and tighten security searches. The “living collection”, it said, would link to the two million years of history it contains within its walls.

Conservation groups fear the plans will spoil the building’s Greek style and have urged Camden Council to reject the proposal.

The Grade I listed museum attracts six million visitors a year and is home to artefacts like the Rosetta Stone and the Parthenon sculptures and is soon set to house the Bayeux Tapestry for a short time.

First opened in 1759, it is considered to be the nation’s most famous example of the Greek Revival style. Designed by Sir Robert Smirke, the building’s colonnade is held up by 44 columns inspired by ancient Ionian ruins in Athens and Priene.

These plans, submitted late last year, story, betray the architect’s original vision for the museum, the Georgian Group says.

The group believes that installing pavilions on one side building will ruin its symmetry and undermine its “powerful and carefully composed” architectural elements.

The conservation group said: “While we recognise the operational challenges faced by the museum, we consider that the proposals would cause an unacceptable level of harm to this internationally important site.”

The Victorian Society also objected, arguing that the “flashy” pavilion designs “resembled a shop and wine bar”, slamming the museum for ignoring earlier feedback on the plans.

Under the proposals, the two pavilions would each contain security lanes and enable “state-of-the-art” scanners to screen guests without asking them to empty their bags, the Local Democracy Reporting Service reports.

Meanwhile, the museum’s historic gates are also set to be reopened, which the organisation hopes will stop visitor lines jamming at the entrance.

The British Museum admitted the changes would cause a “low degree of less than substantial harm” but said it was justified by protecting its interior and reducing clutter from security barriers.

It added that these were temporary installations that would last a decade while the trust works on its 10-year masterplan to redevelop the whole museum, tipped to cost £1bn.

The trust’s proposals are expected to come before the local authority’s planning committee in February.

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