Sir John Soane's Museum
London, United Kingdom 2009–2012
Client: Sir John Soane's Museum Grade I listed
The interiors of Sir John Soane’s Museum are characterised by an engaging variety of objects, furniture, and space. Caruso St John worked on the design of furniture within the restored interiors of four rooms in No. 12, the house forming the left side of the museum in Lincoln’s Inn Fields. The project made new exhibition galleries on the first floor, and an interpretation gallery, entrance facilities and a shop at the ground floor.
Soane’s genius is as much about a splendid organisation of light and space, as it is about a connoisseur’s eye for precious objects and an ability to bring seemingly disparate things together. Caruso St John’s work is intended to provide a seamless mediation between drawings, objects, interpretation, merchandise, and the ‘room’. The new furniture, cabinets and linings required to furnish these rooms, are brought into a balance with their specific positions within the narrative of the Museum, with the material detail of the restored rooms, and finally with their use. The interventions are intended to have the lightness and wit that characterise the rest of the Museum.







Drawings

Ground floor plan

First floor plan

Entrance and shop elevations

Front gallery north elevation
Furniture details

Display case

Side table

Entrance hall desk

Shop furniture

Gallery table

Art trolley
Related news
Phase One of the Opening Up the Soane Project is now complete.
Credits
Location
London, United Kingdom
Date
2009–2012
Client
Sir John Soane's Museum
Heritage
Grade I listed
Construction cost
£550,000
Area
116 m²
Caruso St John Architects
Adam Caruso, Peter St John
Project architect
Bernd Schmutz
Project team
Neslihan Aydogan, Christoph Bedall, Tim Collett, Adam Gielniak, Florian Zierer
Structural engineer
Mann Williams
Services engineer
The Spencer Clarke Partnership
Cost consultant
D R Nolans & Co
Project manager
Fanshawe
Museum restoration architect
Julian Harrap Architects
Lighting
Arup Lighting
Graphic design
John Morgan Studio
Fire, security
Heatherdene
Planning supervisor
PFB Construction Management
Main contractor
FWA, London
Museum cabinets
Goppion Technology
Photography
Hélène Binet
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