The design proposal is in essence a compact scheme on two main levels utilizing the footprint of the existing wet docks with exhibition above. The floor of the museum becomes the roof to the wet dock. This establishes a strong relationship between the museum spaces and the wet dock and allows the visitor to appreciate all aspects of the building as a series of inter-linked and inter-related spaces.

 

The new conservation workshop, storage, slipway and working yard are located to the north and east of the wet dock in order to free-up a key part of the site – the dockside located to the south of the existing wet-dock area.

 

The compact plan allows all existing landscape to be retained, with no trees removed, and all new development located on the existing ‘brown-field’ parts of the site. We believe this to be an economically advantageous solution as it minimizes the overall amount of perimeter wall, roof area, foundations and operational costs for the building.