Museum developments
In 2006 the National Conservation Centre opened a bright and lively new permanent display gallery Reveal, replacing the former display 'Caught in Time'. The new display was made possible by an award of £570,466 from the ReDiscover fund, a renewal fund for science centres and museums across the UK funded by the Millennium Commission, the Wolfson Foundation and the Wellcome Trust.
The new exhibition has at its centre a working laboratory that presents the scientific work of conservators through interpreted displays and demonstrations. Surrounding displays, based around iconic objects and interactives, enable visitors to investigate a wide range of science applications from x-ray analyses of Egyptian mummies to laser cleaning of sculptures. An area with microscopes, databases and interactives allows visitors to explore the themes of the exhibition through connections with everyday objects.
Conserving a kayak
© Derek Massey
The project team included exhibition designers Houghton-Kneale design and Ken Martin Architects.
KE Martin has practised since 1961 and from 1973-1989 was Head of Liverpool Polytechnic School of Architecture, becoming Professor of Architecture in 1988. Martin reverted to full time practice in 1989 and since then has undertaken a wide range of work for institutional, commercial and local authority clients on a number of conservation and urban design projects. Previous projects include improvements to Liverpool Playhouse and the creation of National Museums Liverpool's National Conservation Centre.
Houghton Kneale Design Ltd is a creative company that specialises in narrative design for museums and exhibitions.
Founded in 2000 by Richard Houghton and Kate Kneale, HKD draws on more than twenty years of experience in the museum and theatre design worlds to develop exhibitions as places of social interaction and to present authentic experiences. Working on the principle that teams should be brought together to suit the needs of the story they model their practice on film production methods, employing skilled professionals dedicated to specific tasks under the management of a Creative Director.
You can see some of HKD Ltd's projects below. Each of these links will open in a new browser window.
Conserving a diver's suit
© Derek Massey
