As part of a planned programme of restoration and renewal that will take place over the next few years within the Soane Museum, we intend to create a new facility within the library and research faculty of the Museum, namely a Robert Adam Study Centre.

The Robert Adam Study Centre will house the unique collection of some 9,000 architectural and design drawings by Robert Adam, acquired by Soane in 1833. This collection contains examples of the full range of the Adam brothers' work; from initial sketches of ideas through to magnificent full colour designs for clients to admire. As a collection of Adam's work and the 'Adam Style' that proved so popular in Europe and in the US, it is without parallel and of considerable international importance to scholars, researchers, students, collectors and enthusiasts.

The drawings are currently kept in stable but rather cramped conditions inside a converted Soane wardrobe within the existing library of the Museum. Only four reader spaces are currently available for scholars and researchers to use, which is often insufficient to meet demand. The drawings themselves need to be conserved and re-housed in an appropriate manner and the Museum wishes to create a study centre that is worthy of the treasures it will contain and provide much needed additional reader space that will allow easier access to the collection.

New Furniture and Cabinetwork from Senior and Carmichael

The Museum has commissioned two of England's finest young cabinet makers - Rupert Senior and Charlie Carmichael - to create the furniture and fittings for the Robert Adam Study Centre.

The prime timber is to be solid American Black Walnut, which is non-acidic and ideal for the storage of organic materials such as paper. The furniture will be given a traditional French polish and cabinet doors would be fitted with toughened UV filtered glass to prevent damage from the harmful rays of the sun. The cabinets will be naturally ventilated and exposed to the natural atmosphere within the Study Centre, which will be operated as a dirt and dust-free environment.

The quality of materials and craftsmanship will be of the highest orderand worthy of Sir John Soane'sown designs for the cabinets he had built to contain his own drawings collection and which continue to be used today, almost 200 years later.

For more information about the work or Senior and Carmichael please visit their website at www.seniorandcarmichael.co.uk

If you would like details of how you can help to support this project, please contact Mike Nicholson mnicholson@soane.org.uk