With the Museum of Liverpool set to open in less than 5 days, excitement is building over what will be the largest museum built in the UK for over a century. Designed by Copenhagen-based 3XN, the new museum is a bold geometric structure situated by the Mersey River, on a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Inspired by the surrounding port, the dynamic low-rise structure is reminiscent of the trading ships which at one time dominated the harbor. Naturally, sustainability and energy efficiency have played a role in the design, most notably including the use of an energy efficient ‘trigeneration’ system to create heat, electricity and cooling in one integrated process that will reduce carbon emissions by 884 tonnes each year.
The three story building is characterized by opposing volumes stretching out towards the harbor. Huge picture windows take in the views of both the city and the harbor and a large spiraling staircase in the center visually connects all the levels together. The facade is composed of 5,700 square meters of natural Jura stone attached to the building as a rain screen to improve durability and resistance to the salty air. The stonework was laid in a specific pattern, which helped to improve efficiency in the amount of materials used in the façade’s design, resulting in less wasted material.
As part of their commitment to sustainability, the museum makes use of an energy efficient combined heat and power (CHP) system, to efficiently generate heat, cooling and electricity. This ‘trigeneration’ plant was designed by Manchester-based ENER-G and will guarantee a substantial annual cost savings, while reducing CO2 emissions by 884 tonnes each year. The museum will source its power for the system from a mix of low carbon fuels and renewable energy. The museum is also reported to be seeking a BREEAM “very good” rating to certify its sustainability strategies.
The Museum of Liverpool, which will tell the story of Liverpool as one of the world’s great ports and its cultural influence, will open on July 19th.
Images ©Pete Carr, Philip Handforth and Richard White