Queen Elizabeth II Great Court, Glass-roofed quadrangle at British Museum in Bloomsbury, London, United Kingdom
The Queen Elizabeth II Great Court features a tessellated glass roof spanning the entire central courtyard of the British Museum, surrounding the circular Reading Room.
The central courtyard served as storage for the British Library until 1997, when the collection moved to St Pancras, allowing for the current renovation project.
The central concourse displays twelve sculptures representing different periods of history, from Assyrian artifacts to Chinese artistic expressions.
Visitors access exhibitions, shops, and the Clore Education Centre through this central space, which functions as the primary circulation hub of the museum.
The glass ceiling contains 4,878 steel members connected at 1,566 nodes, supporting 1,656 pairs of windowpanes, each cut to a different shape.
Location: Bloomsbury
Architects: Foster and Partners
GPS coordinates: 51.51944,-0.12694
Latest update: July 16, 2025 08:50
Sir Norman Foster designs buildings with innovative technical solutions. His structures combine steel, glass and energy efficiency. From the Reichstag dome in Berlin to the circular Apple headquarters in California, his works demonstrate technical precision. Foster has shaped London's skyline with 30 St Mary Axe tower and the Millennium Bridge.
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Numbers 24-60 And Attached Railings
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Numbers 1-10 And Attached Railings
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