Scott Brownrigg’s design for the Museum of Military Medicine has received planning approval from Cardiff Council.

The Museum of Military Medicine, currently based in a barracks in Hampshire, is set to move to Britannia Park off Harbour Drive, opposite the Norwegian Church in Cardiff Bay.

The planning committee at Cardiff Council voted in favour of approving permission for the museum on Wednesday 16 December.

The relocation from ‘behind the wire’ places the museum in a more public and accessible location. We were commissioned to reflect the museum’s desire to promote transparency and openness; whilst carefully considering the surrounding context. In 2017, the design was shortlisted for the World Architecture Festival Culture – Future Project Award.

Neil MacOmish, Board Director at Scott Brownrigg and responsible for the scheme design says:

“The design of the building has been carefully considered to fit within the current landscape of Cardiff Bay. The architecture is a contemporary expression of the modern museum, research and visitor facility and evokes memories of the industrial and maritime heritage of this particular part of the Bay. The visually transparent and physically permeable element of the building draws visitors in and allows events to migrate out, creating a positive amenity to the park and the immediate community.”

Neil MacOmish, Board Director

The museum aims to bring the UK’s first 8k immersive interactive video space, in addition to the most comprehensive collection of archives and exhibitions documenting the legacy of British military medicine.

A move to Cardiff will also see the Museum engage with the Cardiff Bay community, creating new exhibitions that reflect the history, diversity and culture of Tiger Bay and Butetown in relation to military medicine to ensure the heritage of the area and Wales is a prominent feature of the Museum.

Speaking in favour of the plans, Cllr Mike Jones-Pritchard said:

“The museum is appropriate for this area of the Bay. We have vast areas of hard open space: Roald Dahl Plass, outside the Pierhead building, outside the Senedd, down to the Barrage.

But there's nothing for the public to really want to come down here. This facility here will provide a pull to the public. Buildings pull people to places.”

Cllr Mike Jones-Pritchard