(JHE) — Mazel tov to the Manchester Jewish Museum, winner of one of the Royal Institute of British Architects (RIBA) National Awards for 2023!
The RIBA National Awards are given to buildings across the UK “in recognition of their significant contributions to architecture.” The museum was one of 30 national winners, drawn from the 138 regional award-winners.
The museum reopened in 2021 after being closed for two years for a large-scale expansion and redevelopment that saw the construction of a modern new wing and full restoration of the Grade II listed Victorian synagogue where it has been housed.
In a separate development, the Museum opened the Jewish time capsule dating back nearly 150 years that had been discovered in 2020 during construction work in the former synagogue. Workers had found the time capsule — a large, sealed glass jar — hidden in the wall near the ark of the former Spanish and Portuguese synagogue, which closed for worship in 1983. It contained old coins, synagogue documents and newspapers dating from the week of the capsule’s burial, including the Jewish Chronicle, the Times, and the Manchester Guardian.
The Museum said it will use the material in programs next year celebrating the synagogue’s 150th birthday.
The £6 million revamp doubled the museum’s size with the modern new wing, featuring a distinctive Corten Steel facade, designed by Citizens Design Bureau. It added new galleries and a new core exhibit as well as a kosher-style vegetarian café, shop, and collection storage. There are also a new learning studio and learning kitchen, where groups and visitors can learn about Jewish heritage though kashrut and culinary traditions. The project received a £2.89 million National Lottery Heritage grant.
In addition to the RIBA national award for 2023, the museum won the RIBA North West Award 2023 and the RIBA North West Project Architect of the Year Award 2023, for Project Architect Katy Marks, of Citizens Design Bureau.
The awards citation states:
This new museum, clad in perforated Corten steel, comprises a gallery space, archive, learning space, and visitor amenities adjoining a fully renovated Grade II*-listed former synagogue. Standing on the busy Cheetham Hill road in the heart of Manchester, it both serves and celebrates the local Jewish community.
[…] The museum places the community it serves at its heart through the building and programming, as is evident in the generous kitchen area provided. The architect highlighted the importance of food within the Jewish culture, as well as the design process for this building. Walking through the corridor to the rear of the synagogue, the smell of freshly baked goods bore evidence of the cookery workshop taking place. The environment was warm, inviting, and welcoming.
Katy Marks stated in May after the announcement of the Regional award and Architect of the year award:
“We are so delighted to get these awards that reflect the creativity, commitment and skill of everyone involved – Client, design team and contractor. These awards also reflect the way in which the museum has connected with so many people from diverse communities in Manchester and beyond. To also receive the project Architect of the year award is very special. This project was an absolute labour of love for us […].”
2 comments on “UK: Manchester Jewish Museum wins architecture award; opens time capsule from 1874”
I am a nonagenarian living in Jerusalem who was married in the synagogue in March 1958. I have a document entitled History of the Manchester Congregation of Spanish & Portuguese Jews 5633-5683 (1873-1923) and would be happy to donate it to the museum. Harold Lewin (born in Manchester in May 1929)
We visited the museum in September of 2015. A volunteer guide gave an interesting (private) tour, the volunteer working in the reception area/gift shop was very friendly, and there were many wonderful old photos on the second floor (the building was formerly a synagogue and it was built in 1874).