Riverside Museum

Riverside Museum, located in Glasgow, Scotland, United Kingdom, is a transport museum that showcases a wide range of vehicles and artifacts, including those related to Isambard Kingdom Brunel, Henry Ford, and the Industrial Revolution. The museum is situated on the site of the former Pointhouse Shipyard, which was once a major shipbuilding facility, and is near the River Clyde, Glasgow Harbour, and the Scottish Exhibition and Conference Centre. The museum's design and construction involved collaboration with Glasgow City Council, Zaha Hadid Architects, and Buro Happold, and its completion was marked by a visit from Alex Salmond, the First Minister of Scotland at the time.

● History

The history of the museum dates back to the early 20th century, when the Glasgow Corporation established a transport museum in Kelvin Hall, which was later relocated to the Pointhouse Shipyard site, with support from Heritage Lottery Fund, European Regional Development Fund, and Glasgow City Council. The new museum was designed by Zaha Hadid Architects, who also designed the London Aquatics Centre for the 2012 Summer Olympics, and Heydar Aliyev Center in Baku, Azerbaijan. The construction of the museum involved Buro Happold, Arup, and Davis Langdon, and its completion was celebrated with a ceremony attended by Nicola Sturgeon, the Deputy First Minister of Scotland at the time, and Charles Dunstone, the founder of Carphone Warehouse.

● Architecture

The architecture of the museum is a notable feature, with a design inspired by the River Clyde and the city's shipbuilding heritage, and influenced by the works of Frank Lloyd Wright, Le Corbusier, and Mies van der Rohe. The building's curved shape and glasgow faience cladding were designed by Zaha Hadid Architects, in collaboration with Buro Happold and Arup, and its construction involved Laing O'Rourke, BAM Construct, and FCC Construcción. The museum's design has been compared to that of the Guggenheim Museum Bilbao, designed by Frank Gehry, and the Sydney Opera House, designed by Jørn Utzon.

● Collections

The collections at the museum include over 3,000 objects, ranging from vintage cars to trams, bicycles, and motorcycles, with examples from Ford Motor Company, General Motors, and BMW. The museum also has a significant collection of model ships, including those related to the RMS Titanic, RMS Olympic, and RMS Britannic, and a range of artifacts related to Isambard Kingdom Brunel, Robert Stephenson, and the Industrial Revolution. The collections are managed by Glasgow Museums, which also oversees the Kelvingrove Art Gallery and Museum, The Burrell Collection, and the Gallery of Modern Art.

● Exhibitions

The exhibitions at the museum are designed to showcase the city's transport heritage, with interactive displays and artifacts related to shipbuilding, railways, and road transport, and featuring examples from Cunard Line, British Rail, and National Express. The museum also hosts temporary exhibitions, which have included displays on The Beatles, David Bowie, and Andy Warhol, and have been curated in collaboration with The British Museum, The National Museum of Scotland, and the Victoria and Albert Museum. The exhibitions are supported by Glasgow City Council, Creative Scotland, and Museums Galleries Scotland.

● Awards and Recognition

The museum has received numerous awards and recognition, including the European Museum of the Year Award, the RIBA Stirling Prize, and the Museums + Heritage Award for Excellence, and has been praised by Nicola Sturgeon, the First Minister of Scotland, and Alex Salmond, the former First Minister of Scotland. The museum has also been recognized for its sustainable design and construction, which involved Buro Happold, Arup, and Davis Langdon, and has been certified by BREEAM and LEED.

● Visitor Information

Visitors to the museum can access the site by public transport, including bus and train services operated by First Glasgow and ScotRail, and can also arrive by car or bicycle, with parking facilities available nearby, managed by Glasgow City Council and NCP. The museum is open daily, with extended hours during peak season, and offers guided tours and audio guides, which are available in multiple languages, including English, Gaelic, and Spanish. The museum also has a range of facilities, including a cafe, shop, and accessibility features, which are managed by Glasgow Museums and Glasgow City Council. Category:Museums in Glasgow