Over the last eight years we have been working with Norfolk Museum Service on plans for a refurbishment of Norwich Castle Museum.
The '11.8 million Heritage Lottery Fund supported scheme emerged following several preliminary studies, extensive consultation and proposal revisions. Large in scale, the project is typical of the work we do in developing new facilities to ensure a viable future for historic buildings. It also illustrates our approach to design in historically sensitive buildings where decisions and their implications for the historic structure have to be carefully weighed against the need to improve and change. We understand the value of actively involving staff, other consultants, conservation bodies and representatives of the end users throughout the project. The work includes provision of environmentally controlled gallery spaces, the re-ordering of the Archaeological and Natural History Displays, including the Keep, creating a new gallery for an integrated display of the history of the Castle and replanning public facilities such as restaurants, toilets, shop and caf'. A new tunnel through the Castle Mound links the Castle to a Resource Centre, storage areas and administration offices in the adjacent listed Shire Hall. A new lift in the Castle Gardens and reinstatement of the mound provides an attractive and accessible approach to the Castle.
