The Great Court, British Museum
Built 1994-99, opened in 2000
Designed by Foster and Partners
The Great Court is the largest covered public square in Europe.
Until 1997, it was occupied by the British Library. Three storeys of bookshelves were stacked around the perimeter. This meant visitors had to skirt around the quadrangle making access to the museum difficult and congested. When the library moved to St Pancras it gave the museum an opportunity for a rethink.
The Queen Elizabeth II Great Court now serves as the museum's main entrance hall. In the centre stands a stone rotunda which encases the Reading Room, ventialiation shafts and support for the roof. Staircases lead up to temporary exhibition spaces and offer natural seating areas where people gather to rest and reflect.
The steel and glass roof spreads across the courtyard and fills the space with a glorious natural light. The roof is made from 3,312 individual glass panels. No two are alike, yet they fit together perfectly to cover the irregular gaps between the circular Reading Room and the rectangular courtyard walls. This wasn't easy - the architects and engineers used complex calculations to make the curved roof work without any pillars blocking the view.
Foster's design respects the original Victorian building while adding something completely modern. The old Reading Room, once hidden inside the museum, now stands proud at the center of this bright and airy space. The Great Court proves that old and new architecture can work together successfully, creating a place that feels both historic and contemporary.
