TECHNICAL
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Technical
RAISING THE ROOF AT THE BRITISH MUSEUM THE SOUTH COLONNADE AT THE GRADE I-LISTED BRITISH MUSEUM HAS BEEN UNDERGOING ESSENTIAL RENOVATION WORK, USING TRADITIONAL SKILLS AND INNOVATIVE SCAFFOLDING DESIGN. CONTRACTOR CURO TELLS NEIL GERRARD ABOUT THE PROJECT
The scaffolding in place, hidden by images of the original pediment
Anyone who has set foot in the British Museum will be familiar with the 19th-century Greek Revival building that houses much of its collection in Bloomsbury, London. The entrance and two wings are known for their imposing Portland stone columns and triangular pediment, or tympanum, featuring stone sculptures called The Progress of Civilisation, designed by Sir Richard Westmacott. However, years of wear and tear have taken their toll. Inspections of the ornate lime plaster soffits along the colonnade, featuring 42 coffers, found degradation in the lime plaster. An earlier restoration which used modern paints meant
the plaster could not breathe. There were also problems with water ingress, requiring replacement of the copper covering along two of the three roofs. Berkshire contractor Curo Construction was appointed to carry out the delicate restoration work. “One of the challenges we faced was providing a temporary roof over quite a large expanse and then trying not to tie it into the fabric of the building – it had to be freestanding,” explains Rob Gordon, operations director at Curo. The scaffolding erection for the temporary roof started in February 2020, and keeping the museum open throughout was a key consideration.
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