Exeter RAMM

Devon

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Architect: Allies & Morrison

Client: Royal Albert Memorial Museum

Project completion: 2011

 

The Royal Albert Memorial Museum in Exeter has long provided an important facility, both locally and nationally. The building is listed and set within the context of a Roman wall and an archaeologically significant site.  Prior to the recent improvement works the building was complicated in its arrangement of spaces with limited access for people with disabilities.  Integral to the design brief was the aim of making all parts of the museum as accessible as might reasonably be achieved given the constraints of the historic fabric and its situation in the centre of Exeter. 

 

The new extension provided an opportunity to simplify circulation and provide valuable additional features such as a combined large passenger and goods lift and improved WC distribution.  The museum now provides independent access for everybody into the museum, throughout all areas, reconciling level differences through discreet lift and ramp provision and induction loops that will benefit users with hearing impairments.  

The creation of an accessible museum has been achieved with a minimum of specialist provision.  The building is accessible to all, benefiting parents with buggies and staff moving exhibits as much as visitors with disabilities.

 

The project won the prestigious Museum of the year 2012 which beat competition from larger museum projects elsewhere in the UK.

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Awards:

 Museum of the year 2012

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