The Royal British Columbia Museum (RBCM) Museum Shop is part of a series of renewal projects for the RBCM, a prominent cultural landmark in Victoria’s Inner Harbour. Aligned with the RBCM Masterplan developed in 2013 by omb in collaboration with London-based John McAslan + Partners, the Museum Shop renovation was a key part of improving the visitor and entrance experience for the Museum.
The location of the Museum Foundation’s existing shop, adjacent the main entry of the Museum, features several qualities that were leveraged in the design. Largely housed within what was a covered exterior breezeway, the shop is afforded ample daylight and a lofty double-height space that spills out beyond the floor-to-ceiling glazing. The renovation enhanced these qualities while addressing the upgrade and rejuvenation of the existing shop.
The design takes a simple, minimal, and elegant approach that emphasizes clean lines, light tones, and a palette of timeless materials, that both respect and subtly reinterpret the architectural language of the existing museum. New custom shelving and millwork display cases provide clarity, structure, and ample storage suited to the diverse and ever-changing inventory of a museum gift shop. These interventions enhance the inherent spatial qualities while introducing a calm, orderly environment, creating an inviting and functional retail experience that complements the museum’s broader renewal vision.
