Row breaks out over planned British Museum security blocks 'like a wine bar'

"The British Museum's plan to build a new security block and convert its front courtyards into a new garden have sparked fears it will spoil the building's iconic Greek style. The landmark Bloomsbury museum wants to replace its controversial anti-terrorism marquees with two new temporary blocks while also converting its front lawn into a Mediterranean botanical exhibit. The British Museum Trust argues these will make the museum more welcoming by "drastically""

"The conservation society The Georgian Group has urged Camden's planning authority to reject the plans as they betray the architect's original vision for the museum. They argue that installing pavilions on one side of the monumental building will ruin its symmetry and undermine its powerful and carefully composed architectural elements. New security buildings in the grounds of the British Museum would look too flashy' and resemble a shop and wine bar', opponents to the plans have said"

The British Museum plans to replace anti-terror marquees with two temporary pavilions and convert its front lawn into a Mediterranean botanical garden. The new pavilions would house security lanes and state-of-the-art scanners to reduce waiting times and screen visitors without emptying bags, and the garden would add a "living collection" linked to human history. Conservation groups argue the pavilions would betray Sir Robert Smirke's original 19th-century Greek Revival design, ruin the building's symmetry, and undermine its architectural elements. Opponents describe the proposed pavilions as flashy and resembling a shop and wine bar. The main building dates to designs from 1823 and was completed in 1852.

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