Moo-seum
A proposed extension of the Ashmolean Museum in Oxford is to be postponed after an onslaught of public criticism labelled the design as "ugly". Many people are concerned that the new "bunker-like" structure will be an aesthetic blemish upon the local architectural conservation area, writes Jeanette Lyman.
Edith Prak of the Ashmolean Museum expressed her empathy with local residents by acknowledging that there would be noise and inconvenience during construction, but argued that their complaints were unfounded as the structure would be unseen from most of the surrounding streets.
If sufficient funds are raised and the citizens of the St John Street Conservation area fail to stop the project, the new structure will add more storage and display space to the museum.
29th Jan 2004