The Royal Observatory in Greenwich has unveiled plans for a £77m renovation, due to complete in 2028.
The 'First Light' project (named after the moment a telescope is initially put to use) will see major changes to the 350-year-old observatory complex, commissioned in 1675 by Charles II "in order to the finding out of the longitude of places for perfecting navigation and astronomy", and quickly thereafter designed by Christopher Wren.
Among the works — spearheaded by architects Jamie Fobert, and landscapers James Fox — will be a new pavilion-style visitor entrance; a bronze staircase and lift tower leading to the Great Equatorial Telescope; new galleries charting the history of the Royal Observatory; interactive astronomy galleries; a new 'Astronomers' Court' with hands-on live science demos; and fresh landscaping which takes its cue from how the Observatory was previously framed: "with laburnums, lilacs, and rich crimson beech — truly pleasant it is to see how the more delicate of our forest-trees, mingle with the broom, guelder-rose, and maythorn."
Said architect Jamie Fobert: "Fascinated by the sextants, the telescopes, and other objects in the Collection and how their makers, in the 18th and 19th centuries, blended functionality with aesthetics, we conceived of the new building elements as 'instruments of navigation' to guide the visitor around the site. Unique to the Royal Observatory Greenwich, we are creating a memorable set of pavilions and stairs in bronze, which test the boundaries of what an astronomical language of architecture can be."
In a separate project, Giant steps — aka the Grand Ascent — have also been hewn into Greenwich Park — harking back to how it looked in the 17th century.
All images © Jamie Fobert Architects
