Completed in 1683 as the original home of the Ashmolean Museum, this sensitive adaptation of the Grade I listed History of Science Museum, better equips the building to meet the needs of a modern institution and continue its long tradition of public learning and discovery.
The project makes lasting improvements to accessibility, visitor experience, staff facilities, and exhibition space. A new lift extension, for the first time, provides equal access to all galleries, while a new welcome space at the Broad Street entrance creates an inviting first impression with carefully integrated modern amenities, all of which support the Museum’s commitment to inclusivity and excellence.
Integration below ground
Beneath the museum, the basement archive extends under the Emperor’s Heads wall and forecourt. Here, structural work resolves long-standing level changes between the Lower Gallery and the new entrance. The external slab and cobbles have been subtly raised to create a continuous surface, while temporary works safeguard the stability of the adjacent highway and Grade I listed wall.
Revealing the medieval city wall
Alterations to the southern end of the building, within the 2000 rear extension, focus on improving functionality and revealing the medieval city wall as part of the visitor route. Revisions to the existing steelwork simplify and refine the earlier flying buttress arrangement, reducing visual impact and enhancing the clarity of the exposed structure. Where possible, existing steel elements will be repurposed, minimising waste and intervention.
Engineering a new welcome space
At the centre of the design is a double-height visitor space formed within the basement lightwell. A new glazed roof enclosure introduces daylight and shelter, creating level access from Broad Street by stair or lift.
The roof structure takes inspiration from astronomical geometry, with a slender steel frame forming a delicate circular composition. Its double-curved profile falls away from the main façade, reducing the structure’s height at the Emperor’s Heads wall while maintaining a smooth, continuous form.
Curved glass roof design
A defining feature of the History of Science Museum is the double-curved glass roof, supported by a steel frame that bends in three directions. Controlling deflection and movement is critical to the design, ensuring the geometry aligns with the emperors’ heads while minimising the number of support points on the museum façade and the masonry banding.
Modelling the geometry was essential to developing glass panel sizes that meet manufacturing, maintenance, and supply requirements. The design integrates multiple software programmes to confirm that overall and differential deflections remain within acceptable tolerances.
A continuing story
The transformation equips the museum with the infrastructure and accessibility expected of a modern institution, while maintaining the integrity of one of Oxford’s most significant historic buildings - delivering world-class spaces for the display of the Museum’s internationally significant scientific collections. The project represents a renewed commitment to scholarship, inclusivity, and the enduring public fascination with science and its history.
