Imperial War Museum North

Architect	Daniel Libeskind
Date Built	2001
Location	Trafford Park Road
Description
Daniel Libeskind is an architect with an international reputation. His practice extends from building major cultural and commercial institutions - including museums and concert halls - to convention centres, universities, housing, hotels, shopping centres and residential work. He was born in Poland in 1946 and became an American citizen in 1965. He studied music in Israel and New York and become a virtuoso performer. He left music to study architecture in New York and Exeter. As an architect Libeskind has been responsible for a number of dramatic buildings and Manchester is fortunate to be home to one of them. In 2002 the Imperial War Museum opened its first "branch" outside of the south-east of England. The concept of the museum has been controversial and the building itself shocked many people. Leibskind describes it as follows: "The Imperial War Museum North deals with the conflicts that have shaped the 20th century and those which will continue to shape the future. The concept for the project is that of a globe shattered into fragments and then reassembled on that site as an iconic emblem of conflict. The building is the interlocking of three shards representing earth, air, and water. The Museum, permanent exhibits, temporary exhibits, learning center and restaurant were completed in 2001 by SDL and Sir Robert McAlpine and opened in 2002. During its first year, the Museum had more than 421,000 visitors."