The
National Army Museum - London, UK
Architect
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William Holford &
Partners
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Date Built
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1961 - 1971
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Location
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Royal Hospital
Road, Chelsea
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Description
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The National Army Museum building
officially became home to the Army's historical
collection in 1971 after it was opened by Queen
Elizabeth II. It describes its mission as,
"To gather, maintain and make known
the story of the British Army and its role and
impact in world history. To provide a museum
experience that meets the widest range of
public need and connects the British public
with its Army." Of the
building it adds that it is,
" Home
to historic works of art and the latest
captivating collections from modern day
conflict, the Museum offers magnificent
galleries, modern spaces and functional
meeting rooms, making it an ideal venue for
all your event needs."
The building's architect, William Holford, was
the Professor of Civil Design at Liverpool
University and a town planner regarded as
largely responsible for the Town & Country
Planning Act of 1947. In the 1960s he was
responsible for the redevelopment of an old RAF
base into the new village of Berinsfield of
which Pevsner said that it was, "
... an opportunity missed... little more than
a huge council estate... with brick semis and
terraces of the most dismal kind, sprawled out
aimlessly along dreary streets...". He was also
responsible for the post-war redevelopment of
Paternoster Square. However, it was
greeted with an equal level of enthusiasm and
redeveloped between 1993 and 2003.
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