A public presentation today by the museum director Alexander Sturgis and Architect Eric Parry explained the plans for the museum's future.

A major extension is proposed at the back of the museum, providing improved facilities and display space. The existing building will also undergo extensive renovation.

Plans and computer mock-ups of the proposed extension were shown. The extension is comtemporary in style, which concerned a number of the audience. It would be a striking glass, stone and ceramic box-like construction.

Planning permission will be sought at the end of February 2007. Planned timescales are for work to commence mid 2008, with the museum closed for 18-24 months.
Projected costs are £9.6 million, £5m of which is pledged by the Heritage Lottery Fund. £2.3m is already in the museum's own endowment fund to fund the development.

An exhibition of the development plans, with models, drawings and computer images will be held at the museum in due course.

More details are available at the museum's website:
••• http://www.bath.ac.uk/holburne/future

and on Eric Parry Architects website:
••• http://www.ericparryarchitects.co.uk/hm.html

and on the Georgian Group website:
••• http://www.georgiangroup.org.uk/docs/cases/index.php?id=3:14:0:0

••• View Aerial Photo of area (Microsoft Virtual Earth)

Charles Harcourt Masters, architect of The Sydney Hotel, built 1796 (became the museum c1913)
••• http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Charles_Harcourt_Masters