Architect unveils new museum design

MANCHESTER-based architecture practice AEW has submitted designs for a £35m museum in Southend.

The practice was appointed to design a new museum in the town following a national competition in 2009.

AEW, which project managed the new Museum of Liverpool, has submitted designs for a 200,000 sq ft museum on behalf of Southend-on-Sea Borough Council.

The museum will display artefacts including Saxon treasures found in 2003 and AEW’s design involves the creation of a building that is intended to be part of the surrounding landscape, with ‘eyelid’ windows overlooking the Thames Estuary.

Consultation over the proposed design has already begun with interested local parties ahead of a planning application being submitted. If approved, it is estimated that the project will take three years to build.

Andrew Titterton, associate director, AEW, said, “To the delight of our client, we’ve worked our original concept through to detailed design within budget and I believe the scheme demonstrates our understanding of the complexity and uniqueness of the site.”

Derek Jarvis, cabinet member responsible for culture at Southend Council, added: “We hope residents and visitors see this [building] will be iconic and will vie with the pier to be one of the places that must be seen in Southend.”