Dare to feel unsettled? The Imperial War Museum North is designed to do just that. It is more than just a building. It’s an experience designed to give visitors a multisensory understanding of war.
The Imperial War Museum North is hard to miss. Its jutting angles and aluminum cladding make it an iconic part of the Manchester skyline. This striking building was completed in 2002.
Did you know the museum is on a former bombsite? Trafford Park was vital for munitions production during both World Wars. Factories churned out munitions, tanks and engines. It became a target during the Manchester Blitz. The Hovis Grain Silos once stood here. They were destroyed in the Second World War. Shrapnel was found when the museum’s foundations were dug.
Daniel Libeskind designed the Imperial War Museum North. It was his first building in the UK. He also designed the Jewish Museum in Berlin. Libeskind believed architecture should enrich the meaning of its subject.
The building represents a shattered globe. Libeskind dropped a teapot from his Berlin studio window. He sealed it in plastic first. The broken pieces inspired the museum’s three shards. These represent conflict on land, sea and air. They are named EarthShard, WaterShard and AirShard.
The AirShard is bunker-like. It’s neither an indoor nor outdoor space. The concrete tower inside looks like it’s leaning. This is an architectural trick to disorient visitors.
The Main Exhibition Space lacks right angles. There is no natural light. The temperature fluctuates. The floor slopes by eight feet. All of this adds to the unsettling experience.
The Water Shard is wave-like. Its windows offer views of the Manchester Ship Canal. These windows give a nod to the area’s shipping past. Cargo liners once traveled this route.
The Imperial War Museum North tells the stories of war. It is more than just exhibits. It is an emotional and intellectual journey. It leaves you thinking long after you leave.