Museum of Diversity, London Architects, UK Virtual Museum, British Architecture Images

Virtual Museum of Diversity in London

3 Oct 2021

Design: SPPARC

Address: London, England, United Kingdom

Museum of Diversity

SPPARC reveals design of immersive virtual Museum

London-based architecture practice SPPARC has designed a virtual museum for cultural not-for-profit organisation, the Museum of Diversity.

Launched Friday October 1st, the Museum of Diversity aims to celebrate the diversity of cultural heritage originating from Africa through immersive virtual reality exhibitions and talks. The new online experience is the first stage in the Museum of Diversity’s wider plan to realise a bricks and mortar location by 2025, also designed by SPPARC.

SPPARC’s concept for the virtual space draws on themes of sustainability, nature, community and connectedness. The museum interiors feature honeycomb forms, a tessellating shape chosen for its structural strength in numbers.

A central rising amphitheatre marks the heart of the museums’ main entrance hall where virtual visitors can meet or move throughout the space to eight standing coloured gallery portals, leading to exhibitions and talks on learning, culture, music, sports, arts, humanities, migration, and innovators.

SPPARC’s brief was to design a zero-carbon museum and transportable roving exhibition ‘pods’. The pods will be manufactured in early 2022 to be distributed to schools and throughout urban public spaces to promote the Museum’s programme.

The digital exhibition hall and pop up exhibition pods have been designed as early iterations of the future physical museum. SPPARC is working closely with the Museum of Diversity to source and inspect possible locations in London, and will continue to advise and design more virtual galleries for the expanding programme of events.

The Museum of Diversity launches at the beginning of Black History Month, with two free exhibitions including the Croydon Murals: Mayor of London Bridging History and the Museum of Diversity Digital Concept.

Trevor Morriss, Principal at SPPARC says:
“To be a part of such an innovative, inclusive and community-focused project is a wonderful thing. As a studio, SPPARC always looks at the local history and culture of our projects’ sites, but our approach to the Museum of Diversity was more about drawing on the rich and varied histories of African communities and creating a space for them to be celebrated centre-stage.”

Troy Richards, Chairman and CEO Museum of Diversity said:
“Our key partner SPPARC has prepared the design for the Museum of Diversity building, without them, we could not have visualised this concept. The concept and resulting virtual space is a reflection of the studio’s long-held interest in culture and people, and shows their commitment to making accessible cities and places for all. We look forward to continuing to work with them on the development of our future spaces.”

Link to virtual museum: https://hubs.mozilla.com/HnzAMsp?hub_invite_id=YSGn6PX

About SPPARC:
SPPARC is a prominent London-based firm of architects, designers and thinkers. An award-winning studio with an exciting UK & International portfolio of completed and live projects across multiple sectors, SPPARC has industry-recognised expertise in delivering high-quality architecture and masterplans of varying scales defined by the team’s pursuit of excellence.

SPPARC has emerged as a key player in the capital, leading the £300m transformation of the former Vinopolis site next to Borough Market, Borough Yards, scheduled for completion in 2021. SPPARC is working as Lead Architect in partnership with Heatherwick Studio on the extensive £1.3bn redevelopment of Olympia London, aiming to position it as a centre for creativity, innovation and entrepreneurship in the UK. SPPARC’s new 70,000 square foot workplace project, Southworks, has just been named the worlds’ smartest office building.

Design: SPPARC