ZMMA and Nissen Richards Studio, working in a co-creative collaboration, are delighted to announce their appointment for the exhibitions redesign at The Royal Armouries Museum in Leeds. The Museum’s ‘Armed with Hope and Understanding’ project represents a major, multi-million-pound refurbishment and will involve creating transformational and new displays, as well completely rethinking the Museum’s curation and interpretation approach.
“The project is a once-in-a-generation opportunity to redefine the museum experience at The Royal Armouries” Pippa Nissen, Director of Nissen Richards Studio, commented.
The Leeds Museum is home to the UK’s National Collection of Arms and Armour and is now embarking on a bold and ambitious transformation, which will revolutionise how visitors engage with history, technology, and the human experience. As The Royal Armouries celebrates over 700 years as a collection and approach its 30th anniversary in Leeds, a competitive tender selected ZMMA and Nissen Richards Studio to work collaboratively to reimagine the displays across 4,700 m2 of the permanent galleries and public spaces, creating an immersive, interactive, and thought-provoking museum for the 21st century.
“This process is more than an exhibition redesign” Adam Zombory-Moldovan, Founding Principal and Creative Director of ZMMA commented. “It’s a chance to reimagine how to tell the story of using, designing and making arms and armour, and to help visitors reflect on the impacts they’ve had on people, world events and society.”
The re-conceived galleries will be dynamic, inclusive, and innovative, bringing the collection to life through performance, storytelling, digital experiences, and hands-on interaction. The displays will challenge assumptions, spark curiosity, and engage audiences in ways never seen before in an arms and armour museum.
“Both ZMMA and Nissen Richards Studio are thrilled to have been chosen to be part of this journey – and to create opportunities for a truly relevant and co-created project – creating a focus for the community as well as a destination for national and international visitors” Adam Zombory-Moldovan added.
“We are really pleased too” Pippa Nissen concluded, “that the two design companies have come together to form a collaboration that puts positive debate and discussion at the heart of the project and are looking forward to a very creative and thought-provoking design journey.”
Alongside ZMMA and Nissen Richards Studio, the winning consultant team includes:
- Femme Fatale Studio – Audio-Visual Design
- Nuits Noires – Sound Design
- DHA Designs – Lighting Design
- DHD Services – Audio-Visual Infrastructure
- Greenway Associates – Project Management & Quantity Surveying
- Eckersley O’Callaghan – Structural Design (Exhibition)
- Max Fordham – Mechanical and Electrical Engineers (Exhibition) & Acoustic Consultant
- David Bonnett Associates – Access Consultant
- TENOS – Fire Life Safety Consultant
- QUOIN Consultancy – Principal Designer (CDM / Building Regulations)