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Jewry Wall Museum

  • The college closed in 2013 and gave opportunity for the Museum of Roman Leicester to expand and be upgraded, utilising the historic college spaces for increased exhibition and public use and ensuring the continued viability of the Grade II heritage asset.

    Levitate were commissioned from 2014 as design and conservation architects responsible for the design of a series of strategic but crafted new interventions to the original building complementing the complexities of Dannatt’s original building, whilst allowing for its conservation and sensitive adaptation. These include:

    • a new accessible walkway with foundations carefully sited within the Schedule Ancient Monument’s ruins

    • a new accessible glazed entrance integrated into the original Dannatt porch and terrace

    • opening up of the library to create a new retail space at the heart of the museum, overlooking the Scheduled Ancient Monument and Jewry Wall  

    • a new feature staircase and lift sliced through the concrete vaults forming a new accessible route and enabling a circular visitor flow

    • decorative timber screening in the main hall subdividing the historic assembly hall and forming a new the immersive flexible exhibition space

    • a sophisticated MEP strategy that integrates all services discretely within the exposed concrete vaults, paired beams and exhibition linings

    • enhanced thermal performance through new roof coverings, cladding and adjustments to its historic glazing systems 

    • conservation, cleaning and repair of the concrete structure, masonry and timber work Levitate led on all aspects of conservation works gaining Scheduled Ancient Monument and Listed Building consent, as well as commissioning surveys for extensive building fabric repairs for concrete, fascia panels, windows, cladding and archaeological investigations. 

    These key interventions are the back drop for a new world-class visitor centre that brings the whole Museum back into public use alongside new teaching and school outreach facilities, and secures the long term future of this significant 20th century building. 

Balancing Historic Conservation with Adaptive Reuse

Levitate Architects Jewry Wall Museum Leicester glazed entrance porch and elevated accessible walkway bridge overlooking Scheduled Ancient Monument ruins.
Levitate Architects Jewry Wall Museum exhibition space showcasing Roman mosaic display under conserved concrete board-marked vaults with new feature staircase.
Levitate Architects Jewry Wall Museum exhibition space showcasing Roman mosaic display under conserved concrete board-marked vaults with new feature staircase.
Jewry Wall Museum new entrance lobby and conservation by Levitate Architects adapts Trevor Dannatt’s museum building, viewed across the ancient Roman ruins.
Assembly hall at Jewry Wall Museum transformed by Levitate Architects with custom timber screening subdividing the historic stage and new stair from the immersive space.
Levitate Architect's Jewry Wall Museum conservation wtih new entrance lobby, repaired concrete structure and fascia panels overlooking Scheduled Ancient Monument ruins.

“A case study in sensitive adaptation of post‑war public architecture”

Owen Hatherley, Building • read more here

Levitate Architects Jewry Wall Museum light-filled shop and reception, sensitively converting the library and retaining the historic reception desk and shelving.
Jewry Wall's conserved exhibition hall by Levitate, discreetly integrating MEP services within the Brutalist concrete beams and refurbished terrazzo floor.
Close-up of Jewry Wall Museum's new feature staircase by Levitate showing a crafted bronze handrail against dark vertical timber balustrade.
Jewry Wall Museum refurbishment by Levitate Architects reconnected the exhibition space with the exterior Roman ruins and Jewry Wall through repaired glazing.
A bespoke timber and metal feature staircase and lift by Levitate Architects Improves Jewry Wall Museum's accessibility by cutting through exposed concrete vaults.
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