Archaeological remains of Shakespeare's 16th-century Curtain Playhouse have been uncovered and integrated into the Museum of Shakespeare in Shoreditch, east London, by Perkins&Will.
Designed to "reveal and celebrate the historically significant remains" of the theatre, which were uncovered during the early stages of construction on the site, the museum was designed by architecture studio Perkins&Will for developer Cain International.
Perkins&Will has completed the Museum of Shakespeare in east London
Built largely below ground, the museum is topped with a single-storey angular structure at ground level, which provides access to the museum interior.
The structure is clad entirely in stainless steel chosen as a reference to a stage curtain with ripples. Archaeological remains feature inside the museum
Below ground, the museum was built in response to the footprint of the archaeological remains.
Raised glass walkways and viewing platforms traverse the space at the height of the original stage to provide both circulation and views over the stripped-back interior.
Raised walkways provide circulation throughout the museum
The museum forms part of a larger mixed-use development in east London named The Stage, which was also designed by Perkins&Will for Cain International. It is set to contain over 20,000 square metres of workspace across two office buildings as well as 412 homes, and restaurants, bars and shops.
"The Stage project is a great example ...