’Christian O’Reilly’s elegant but practical furniture was produced for us against an exacting timescale, tight budget and very specific brief.

The designs came as a response to visiting the Royal Albert Memorial Museum which in its new incarnation melds the nineteenth century Venetian Gothic building with a much sparser twenty-first century extension. In line with our brief, Christian O’Reilly’s public seating works successfully in both settings, as well as meeting all the practical concerns we identified. We are delighted by the results. We very much appreciate their enthusiasm and passion for the project; their creativity and attention to detail, but most of all Christian is apparently unflappable and was also able to deliver against our other two constraints: a fixed opening date and money!’

Camilla Hampshire, Museum’s Manager Royal Albert Memorial Museum and Art Gallery

Project details

Client : Royal Albert Memorial Museum and Art Gallery, Exeter

Brief : To design and build 13 benches for use in both the original museum and the new contemporary extension.

Key project points:

+ 9 weeks from receiving the brief to delivery of 13 bespoke benches

+ flexible design – benches of various lengths, some with arms and backs

+ contemporary design – an oak top with decorative moulding sitting on structural steel supports, makes reference to the architecture of both the original Victorian building and the new extension, as well as tying in with the new display cases and interactive units

+ curved shapes on the brackets were inspired by the shapes on a huge, original stone fireplace in the museum.

+ complies with accessibility requirements and health and safety standards

+ benches can be moved around the museum as required