3XN’s winning proposal for a new British national museum, the Museum of Liverpool, will establish a dynamic, open and accessible structure that grows out of its riverside site, responding to its historical urban context.

The Museum of Liverpool is to be built at the world famous Liverpool Waterfront. The site is one of the most prominent, located between the Albert Dock and the Pier Head, next to The Three Graces of the Royal Liver Building, the Cunard Building and Harbour Board.

The site falls within the Liverpool’s World Heritage Site which was inscribed by UNESCO in 2004. The building is conceived as inclined or elevated platforms, gradually forming a sculptural structure. It will be fully accessible and will contribute to the pedestrian flows along the waterfront instead of blocking them. Situated next to the Pier Head, the Museum will be visible from both the river and the city.

The Museum of Liverpool will become the world’s leading city history museum, showcasing social history and popular culture, and will look at Britain and the world through the eyes of Liverpool.

It is estimated that the new Museum will attract at least 750.000 visitors on a yearly basis, and that Liverpool, with the Museum as a symbol of the Liverpool’s ongoing regeneration, will be elevated into the front rank of European tourist destinations, as well as providing a brilliant place for local families to find out about their own history.

The Museum will be a focal point of 2008 when Liverpool becomes European Capital of Culture. It is with this impetus that the construction of the building will be complete in 2008 and will thereby become a key attraction of the celebration year. Final completion of the museum with the fitting out of the exhibition spaces and experience theatres will be in 2009.

Project details

* Project Name: Museum of Liverpool
* Client: National Museums Liverpool
* Project Type: Museum; Public building
* Architect: 3XN Architects / Kim Herforth Nielsen, Bo Boje Larsen, Kim Christiansen
* Design Team: Kim Herforth Nielsen with Thomas Kaszner, Michael Kruse, Per Damgaard-Sorensen, Kim Christiansen, Martin Musiatowicz, Melanie Zirn, Morten Mygind, Trine Dalgaard, Malene Knudsen, Helge Arno, Carsten Olsen, Dan Hinge, Dan Thirstrup, Erik Frehr Hansen, Marianne Els, Jacob G. Nielsen, Jorgen Sondermark, Rikke Zachariasen, Pia Hallstrup
* Contractor/s: Pihl & Son A/S
* Date of commencement of project: 2004
* Date of completion of project: 2010
* Location of site: Mann Island, The Liverpool Docks, Liverpool, GB
* Built-up Area: 12,500 m2
* Cost of Construction/Execution: € 95,000,000