Nex’s bold reworking of the RAF Museum in Hendon is designed to reconnect the organisation and its historic buildings with the local community and wider public

Buildings.

Photos
Alan Williams

Nex has completed a large-scale redevelopment programme at the Royal Air Force Museum London, commonly known as the RAF Museum. Coinciding with this year’s Royal Air Force centenary, the competition-winning project is was master planned by landscape architect Agence Ter and Nex. Located on the edge of what was once the London Aerodrome and then RAF Hendon, the £23m scheme comprises exhibition and visitor facilities together with landscaping designed to improve visitors’ understanding of the site and the museum’s connection with the local community.

Site plan; ground- and first-floor plans; section

By relocating the car park, a green space has been created at the heart of the museum, evoking of its airfield history. The ‘museum field’ not only helps to unite the disparate group of former military buildings across the site, but also provides a public space set within a dense residential neighbourhood. Circulation and views are organised along runway-like axes, allowing visitors to traverse the site from edge to edge. A circular ‘taxiway’ connects the exhibition spaces and other facilities. Clearly defined pathways make navigation simple and intuitive, while colourful planting and fixed seating are designed to encourage visitors and locals to linger.

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The largest intervention is the refurbishment of a large-span, single-roof Hangar from the 1970s that has been repurposed as the museum’s entrance galleries and visitor centre. While the aluminium-clad exterior retains its simple appearance, a new 40-metre-long entrance with a deep, cantilevered roof canopy hints at the drama within.

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The main exhibition space has been reconfigured around a huge Sunderland flying boat – an exhibit too fragile to move during construction – and is focused on visitors’ understanding and orientation. The removal of a brick entrance and restaurant annex has resulted in a ‘cleaner’ external geometry and sense of place, as well as facilitating a single access point for the whole site. A working water tank and pump has been re-clad to form a visual marker at the entrance.

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A new two-storey pavilion occupies the centre of the hangar and contains a shop, cafe, toilets, members room and flexible spaces for events and meetings. The facilities are available for local organisations to deliver communuity-based programmes and activities. The structure’s long elevations are ‘pinched’ to form a welcoming orientation area at the entrance and generous exhibition space on the other side. Evoking jet turbines, louvred aluminium cladding fins provide effective acoustic absorption. A deep balcony area provides views of the large-scale aircraft displays throughout the hangar.

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Across the museum field, a 1930s RAF supplies building has been transformed into to a 120-seat visitor restaurant with an outdoor terrace. Repurposing the previously derelict building back was welcomed by Historic England and a key factor in attracting HLF funding for the museum redevelopment, says the architect. A former loading bay at the front of the building has been fitted with a large window signifying the restaurant from afar. The exposed steel truss roof, skylights and tall windows have been refurbished and restored. Timber office booths form intimate and private spaces within the large open plan dining space. An overflow dining room clad with sawn timber panels can be used for coach parties and private groups.

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Credits

Architect
Nex—
Structural engineer
Techniker
Services engineer
E&M Technica
Landscape architect
Agence Ter