Welcome to the Lapworth Museum of Geology
here at the University of Birmingham, and
what a fantastic and transformational year
this has been for the museum.
Given its grade II listed status, historical
analysis of this fantastic building was really
important. The space was originally occupied
in the Edwardian period and then during the
First World War it became an ambulance station.
It was only the 1920s when it became the home
to the Lapworth Museum.
The Lapworth has one of the UK's most scientifically
important geological collections with a quarter
of a million objects. We've used these unique
collections in order to tell the fascinating
story of the evolution of the planet and of
life.
Architecturally much of the scheme is simply
about undoing many of the insensitive changes
and modifications that have been made over
the previous hundred years. What’s fantastic
to see today is some of the original features
uncovered; amazing details that have been
hidden for many, many years.
We now have fantastic visitor facilities and
for the very first time we have a new Temporary
exhibition space and an inspiring education
room. The education room has been incredibly
popular, particularly with school groups.
We've been able to welcome over a thousand
school pupils since October 2016. We've also
been able to plan a series of family fun events
which have been really, really popular.
So the challenge that I was set was to bring
it to life and make it unlike anything that
Birmingham’s seen before. We worked with
paleontologists and geologists to really understand
how these animals would have interacted with
how Birmingham was in the past and I think
that's a really, really, really special thing
because you won't get that anywhere else.
So having reopened again in June (2016) it's
been absolutely fantastic. Feedback has been
superb, visitor numbers have doubled and museum
is now buzzing with families with children,
school parties, adults, young people - all
mixing with our students and staff here at
the University.
I came here as a kid and there were things
to see but it wasn't very attractive. Coming
here now it's.. it's amazing.
I've had probably more positive feedback on
this than any other project I've been involved
with because it's touched on something particularly
important. Whether you're sort of 94 and you’re
a mature academic or your age four and you
just love scary dinosaurs, it feels like you've
discovered a hidden gem.
It's great to see the viewer really interact
and love what they're seeing in front of them
I think it's really good. I can't quite believe
it’s changed this drastically. It's fantastic,
I really love it! [Music]
