Buttress wins Blackpool museum brief
The Manchester-based architect has been appointed by Blackpool Council to develop proposals for a heritage museum within the Winter Gardens Pavilion Theatre.
The museum aims to bring together artefacts, stories and memories, which together tell the story of the seaside resort.
The £21m project will be part of the redevelopment of the grade-2 listed Winter Gardens and will be built within the Pavilion Theatre and associated Horseshoe.
A £1.2m Heritage Lottery Fund grant was secured in May 2014, which will pay for the first development phase. Blackpool Council and Buttress will apply for a £20m round two heritage lottery application later this year to put together the museum and artefacts.
Buttress said the proposed museum will be "a dynamic and celebratory space to capture the essence of Blackpool; a blend of museum, visitor attraction and theatre, filled with artefacts, film, music and performance".
The museum is scheduled to open in 2018.
Gavin Sorby, managing director of Buttress, said: "We were told of our appointment just before the Christmas break, which was the perfect end to the year for us. The new museum promises to be a fascinating mix of heritage and exuberance, of conservation restraint and escapism."
