What Is Dippy Telling Us? Dr. Wang Qi Department of the Built Environment

 “I love Bloomsbury much but I love five acres more.”

 Opened to the public in 1881  Richard Owen’s sketches in 1859, 1862  Influence in competition  The first commissioner of work – William Cowper Francis Fowke, 1864 Robert Kerr, 1864

 1866, Alfred Waterhouse  Thames Embankment Project, 1869 The first commissioner of wrok – Henry Layard  Thomas Huxley’s sketch, 1869

 1871, Final Design The first commissioner of wrok – A.S. Ayrton

 Question  Who does control the design in Museum Project, Architects, Curators or Officers?

 Space, Sculpture, Relief and Fresco

 Criticism Nature,16 th Nov – The first point which strikes a visitor at the present time is that a series mistake has been made in the erection of a building with such elaborate and ornate internal decorations for museum purposes. It is clear that the form, position, and illumination of the cases has in many instances been sacrificed to a fear of interfering with the general architectural effect… Again and again we find massive columns, beautiful in themselves perhaps, breaking up a line of cases, or throwing their contents into deep shade.

 Question  Is it a right language for museum? Has it talked too much or lost its tongue?

 Evolution or Creation?

 Question  Is it necessary to design a circulation to guide visitors in universal museums?  Confused? Clear?

 Paleontology display  Central hall  East wing  West wing

 Paleontology display  Central hall  East wing  West wing  Question  Do the different styles of display contrast (weaken) or harmonize (enrich) the exhibition?  An education centre? A theme park?

 1970s – 1990s merge on the east wing and the Geology Department (modernism)  21 st century extension on the west wing – the Darwin Centre (contemporary and sustainable)

 Criticism of the Darwin Centre 'There were many fascinating elements to explore: the sheer size of this valuable collection; the complexity of the scientists' working environment, and their relationship to this collection - all bound together by the very contemporary concept of allowing the public to see behind the scenes. In the cocoon building, the boundaries between the inner and outer worlds of scientific research are blurred and we have achieved a transparency... without interrupting the work in progress.' ---- Anna Maria Indrio, partner in charge, C F Møller Architects.