Architect beat Stanton Williams, Feilden Clegg Bradley and BIG

Team 1: Natural History Museum competition

Team 1 - Niall McLaughlin Architects

Niall McLaughlin Architects has won the competition to redevelop the grounds of London鈥檚 Natural History Museum.

The practice, which is working with landscape architect Kim Wilkie, beat BIG, Feilden Clegg Bradley Studios and Stanton Williams to land the job.

McLaughin鈥檚 entry was the unanimous choice of a jury that included Michael Portillo and was chaired by Capco鈥檚 Ian Henderson who described it as meeting the museum鈥檚 needs 鈥渂rilliantly鈥.

Competition organiser Malcolm Reading said: 鈥淎ll of the teams should be congratulated for rising to the challenge set by the competition. This was reflected in both the quality of their submissions, as well as the vitality of their presentations.

鈥淏ut in the end it was Niall McLaughlin鈥檚 proposal which reflected the real wants and needs of visitors while also being sensitive to the significance of this key site. They will now take their initial concept and work closely with the museum to develop it further.鈥

McLaughlin praised the qualities of his rivals鈥 entries and said: 鈥淭he Natural History Museum offers the opportunity for us to reflect upon the relationship between an important building and the natural landscape that surrounds it.

鈥淲e look forward to deepening our understanding of the natural world and thinking about how the public will access this knowledge in the future.鈥

The other shortlisted teams

- BIG (Bjarke Ingels Group) with Martha Schwartz Partners
- Grant Associates with Feilden Clegg Bradley Studios
- Land Use Consultants (LUC) with Design Engine
- Stanton Williams Architects with Bradley-Hole Schoenaich Landscape Architects