Aksum Museum

In 2005 Mallinson Architects were appointed to work on the World Bank’s Aksum Heritage Management Project with Hydea ltd. and a team of specialists. The proposals included the restoration of the Aksum Stele Park, and the creation of a new museum.

The works will be completed in 2009 and involve the creation of a film on Aksum for the museum as well as installing, conserving and displaying the exhibits.

The Museum is designed to have an active role in the local community providing educational resources for schools, and a location for activities such as poetry and musical recitals.

The requirement for the contract was that all works are to be made locally, so cases and models were designed to be produced and manufactured in Ethiopia. The internal architecture was developed to reflect the Aksum style in the classic period gallery. All lighting is LED and the entire museums power load is less than 500w.

An important part of the museum is the provision of teaching spaces, and an excavation at the centre of the museum of a tomb discovered while building the museum will be used to explain the process of archaeology. Local painters will contribute to the time line exhibition, and a place for poets and music is provided in front of the old house of Wolete Israel the last crown princess of Ethiopia which has been restored as the museum offices and café.