The British Museum was one of the many great buildings that I failed to visit when I was living and working in London, despite it only being 5 minutes walk from my office. Amongst the amazing exhibits in the museum, I was keen to see the Foster+Partners undulating steel and glass roof covering the central courtyard and felt it was well overdue a visit.
This area has been very well photographed, with the geometric patterns of the roof and the juxtaposition of the old and the new leading to some incredible shots. One of the most inspiring views is from the South-East as you enter the courtyard, with a set of wide stairways leading around the circular reading room, inviting you to climb around the exterior of the stone-clad barrel.
At the top of the restored reading room is the area that I decided to photograph. With the drum sitting tighter against the museum walls on the North-West face, the restaurant situated here is tucked away from the hustle of the courtyard at ground level, the space inbetween forming an unscalable sheer face of stone. In this privileged position, the structure of the roof becomes close enough to touch and offers a unique and different view of the Great Court.
nice capture
Absolutely beautiful — what an unusual roof design. Makes for a great photo, though!
nice architecture of the museum !!
nice click !!
I used to live right next door to this amazing place! Great photo!
I took am almost same photo when I visited it a few years ago
The people really give this incredible architectural project some scale. I used to live in London for the longest time, and when everything is right on your doorstep it is often easy delaying going to visit stuff… I used only go visit things when guest flew into town…!
Thanks. I am always keen to get people into my shots to show scale, culture etc. It was so busy when I was there, it would have been hard not too!
Not visiting everywhere was one of the things I really regret about living in London. Still, it’s nice to visit now with fresh eyes.
It’s one of the bits of the museum I always stick my head into each time I’m on a London visit. The whole space, when viewed from the doorway of the lobby, has the look of some futuristic image from the 50s and 60s with a little Dali thrown in. I can never get enough of it. I think it’s to do with the strange relationships between the classical, the modern and the futuristic – it just ‘works’ for me – thanks for reminding me of it
Thanks for the comment. Yes, it is a really special place. It truly took my breath away walking into the entrance of the courtyard. Next time I’m in the area I will be sure to visit it again.
When I was there it was the best city for museums that I’d ever been to. Great photo. What a great city.
The British Museum is one of my favourite places in the world. You did a beautiful job of capturing the Great Court! Incredible photo!
Steel, glass, stone, concrete, perfect mix. I have visited once before, amazed….
Awesome post! Thank you for sharing!
…following your blog…
Seamless design. Fabulous afternoon tea. And a gorgeous photo!
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great
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What a beautiful building. I love nice architecture. Thank you for sharing with us.
Museums can be a good place for architects to stretch their minds.
Ah the British Museum…one of my very favorite places in the world. What a great shot, catching all the elements so well.
How astounding and amazing the capture
I like the contrast between the old stone & the new glass. As you noted, it’s this juxtaposition that makes for an interesting shot. Great photo!
really great shot
Great photo of a beautiful design and space. In a fabulous city, the British Museum really is a highlight. Thanks for sharing, and great write up, too.
Looks like a cold place.
Fascinating location! The only question now is, did you eat at the restaurant and is the food good?!!!
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Looks amazing!
amazing!!
Great blog post. I really wanted to hate this building when it was unveiled, but I failed.
Thank you for sharing.
sev
Great picture, I still can’t believe I’ve never been, I need to add this to my “to do” list
One of my favourite places in London — the whole world to look at (I go see the Rosetta Stone again and again, every time I’m there) and a good restaurant, too. And entry to the museum is still free — amazing. The tables you can see down below belong to the tea shop, from which I have a free mug; the last time I was there, we were just sitting down with our tea when there was a fire alarm — a real, but (thank goodness) small, fire, not a drill — and we had to leave. The fellow who told us to leave said to just take our tea and go, so…free mug. (And from the vantage point of the walkway from which you must have taken that shot, just behind you is the room with antiquities from the dig I once went on in Egypt!)
Beautiful shot. The simple geometric pattern of the ceiling structure modulated to the curve creates a wonderful awareness of form. The curve of the balcony leads deep into the centre of the frame, while the textures and colours work beautifully together. I particularly like the way the picture seems divided in thirds both vertically and horizontally- you’ve created a wonderful composition with a modern, stylish choice of subject.