New Scout Association museum is going to be a big tent

Tate Harmer, the London-based architectural firm, has won the competition to design the new museum for The Scout Association (TSA) in London. The structure, which will be sited at the TSA headquarters at Gilwell Park in Chingford, will include a Scouting museum and visitor centre.

New museum represents the essence of Scouting

The proposal put forward by Tate Harmer is the concept of a “big tent”, in recognition of the camping activity adopted by Scout groups across the country. Tate Harmer’s lead architect, Jerry Tate, said, “we thought about what represents Scouting, apart from using knots, and most of us at Tate Harmer who were scouts remember the magic of being in a tent, so we thought that is what it should be.” The colourful, environmental structure, costing around 6 million pounds, will tell the Scouting story from its earliest beginnings.

Built on the site of the home of Scouting

The site, which is currently being used as a Scout Adventure Park, is the place where the first scout leaders received their training. It has long been dubbed the “spiritual home of Scouting” and is the venue for several national Scouting events. The new structure will also provide accommodation for the events and house many new activities for Scouts and public alike.

The aim of the firm is to create a focal point for UK Scouting, as well as enhancing the visitor experience for international Scouting groups. The space for the history of Scouting will also include the story of the founder, Lord Robert Baden-Powell, a climate-controlled storage facility for archived records, and Lord Baden-Powell’s Rolls Royce.

Hundreds of neckerchiefs will festoon the tent

Extending over 1,600 square metres, the tent will be covered with Scouting neckerchiefs, which will represent the variety of Scout troops around the world. The polyester-panelled tent will connect with a 15 metre-high clock and bell tower, which serves as a beacon for visitors using the new heritage trails within the site.

The outlying buildings, which will house the new visitor facilities, will be made from pre-fabricated timber. The idea behind the design of the timber buildings is to fall in line with the Scouting movement’s philosophy of “self-reliance and sustainability”.

Tate Harmer are well known in the architectural world. Their previous projects include the Brunel Museum, the Eden Hotel, Cranleigh School, and the world famous Kew Gardens.

Scouting first began in 1907

The Scouting movement was first formed in 1907 by Lord Robert Baden-Powell, the Baron of Gilwell. A former military officer, Lieutenant General Robert Baden-Powell served in conflicts around the world. The first ever camping expedition of Scouts was held on Brownsea Island, in Poole harbour, and was attended by just 20 boys.

The Boy Scouts Association followed in 1910, to provide a “national body” within the UK to organise Scouting activities and troops. The name was changed in 1967 to accommodate the allowance of girls and adults within the movement.

h/t: Design Week