The Harris Museum & Art Gallery: A Revitalised civic Hub
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RAA provided exhibition planning, interpretation, wayfinding, content, and graphics, shaping inclusive experiences across museum and library collections that inspire curiosity, connection, and cultural engagement.
[Image: Courtesy Simon Critchley photography]
Building on The Harris’s objective of creating a blended cultural experience, RAA developed a design strategy to enhance visitor engagement with collections, spaces, and services. From initial planning to final fit-out, the team designed every element of the visitor journey with a cohesive spatial and visual language.
this project transformed The Harris into a vibrant civic hub with integrated museum, library, and gallery collections in redesigned spaces. RAA’s design features interactive exhibits,digital storytelling,and bold graphics throughout inviting areas like a café,atrium,and retail spaces. Every detail, from signage to furniture, was coordinated for a coherent experience.
An inclusive design
The Harris symbolises a bold reimagining of one of Lancashire’s moast iconic buildings, designed to unlock its full potential as a cultural hub for Preston and the wider region.
With increased accessibility to its collections, the building offers a richer and more dynamic experience for visitors of all ages.It features participatory programmes, co-created displays, and flexible spaces that foster creativity, conversation, and connection. Welcoming 100,000 more visitors annually, it remains a civic landmark-open, inclusive, and community-shaped.Its core values include accessibility, wellbeing, and civic pride.
[Image: Courtesy Michael Porter Photography]
Hands-on experiences, adaptable event spaces, and displays reflecting Preston’s past and present now define the public offer. RAA’s design builds on these goals, creating a welcoming, intuitive visitor experience rich in cultural meaning. Through interpretive planning,exhibition design,and strategic coordination,RAA helped realize the client’s vision for a revitalised institution.
RAA’s inclusive design reimagines how The Harris welcomes visitors, blending museum, library, and gallery spaces into an accessible, integrated cultural experience that breaks customary divisions.
Audience research revealed that locals accessed council services or borrowed books downstairs, but rarely ventured upstairs.The museum and gallery felt unfamiliar or “not for them.” RAA’s design redistributes collections and moves books to upper floors. Visitors now encounter art, artefacts, and literature throughout.
This blended approach is reflected in the building’s interpretive scheme, which unfolds across three levels: stories on the ground floor explore The Harris’s civic role; the first floor shows Preston’s people and communities; and the second connects to global narratives, with the pendulum linking them all.
Created through workshops with The Harris team, the blend was carefully refined in every aspect to unify storytelling, accessibility, and civic purpose. Visitors are now naturally immersed in collections, sparking curiosity, dialog, and connection.
The Foucault Pendulum
The foucault Pendulum, a favorite feature, is now a striking animated centrepiece, suspended 33 meters from the rooflight and aligned with the compass rose below.
this repositioning centres the pendulum i
RAA Designs welcoming Spaces at The Harris Museum and Antonín Dvořák’s Birthhouse Museum
RAA, a leading museum and visitor attraction design firm, has recently completed projects at both The Harris Museum in Preston, UK, and the Antonín Dvořák’s Birthhouse Museum in Nelahozeves, Czech Republic. These projects demonstrate RAA’s commitment to creating engaging and accessible experiences for visitors,blending displays and fostering a sense of discovery.
The Harris Museum: A Welcoming and Accessible Space
The Harris Museum, art Gallery & Library in Preston reopened in April 2024 following a £10.2 million refurbishment. Preston City Council spearheaded the project, aiming to modernize the museum and increase its appeal to a wider audience. RAA served as the physical design director for the project, focusing on creating a welcoming and inclusive environment.
Sarah Pollard, associate and physical design director at RAA, explained the design ideology: “We wanted The Harris to feel genuinely welcoming – a place where anyone might wander in, encounter an artwork or artefact unexpectedly, and feel drawn into the narrative. It offers a retreat for quiet reflection and also a gathering space where people can come for social interaction.”
RAA achieved this by blending displays throughout the building, encouraging visitors to stumble upon exhibits and fostering a comfortable and curious atmosphere. The refurbishment included upgrades to accessibility, making the museum more inclusive for all visitors. Lancashire Post reports that the renovated Harris features a new cafe, shop, and exhibition spaces.
antonín Dvořák’s Birthhouse Museum: Celebrating a musical Legacy
RAA also recently completed work on the Antonín Dvořák’s Birthhouse Museum in Nelahozeves, Czech Republic. This project focused on showcasing the life and work of the renowned composer Antonín Dvořák. Details about the specific design elements of this project are currently limited in publicly available sources, but it demonstrates RAA’s international reach and expertise in exhibition design.
RAA: A Global Leader in museum Design
RAA has established itself as a prominent force in the museum and visitor attraction design industry. The firm’s portfolio includes a diverse range of projects, demonstrating its ability to adapt to different cultural contexts and client needs. Their focus on creating engaging, accessible, and memorable experiences positions them as a key player in shaping the future of museums.
Key Takeaways:
* RAA recently completed design projects at The Harris Museum in Preston, UK, and Antonín Dvořák’s Birthhouse Museum in Nelahozeves, Czech Republic.
* The Harris Museum refurbishment aimed to create a more welcoming and accessible space for visitors.
* RAA’s design philosophy emphasizes blending displays and encouraging accidental discovery.
* RAA is a global firm with a diverse portfolio of museum and visitor attraction projects.