Extra space.
In addition, however, to the space provided for the collections, the new buildings would comprise about eight thousand six hundred feet on the three principal floors, for studies, closets, staircases, &c.
Space in basement.
The space in the basement it is unnecessary to estimate in detail, being manifestly superabundant for its purpose.
Space transferred to Natural History.
The Plan of the Upper Floors shows the accommodation which might be provided, upon the present scheme, for the Departments of Natural History, by transferring to them the galleries and studies on that floor now occupied by Antiquities, and constructing an upper room on the site of the staircase, to unite the Central Saloon (Return 379, Plan 18, No. 1), into which the new principal staircase would conduct, with the galleries so transferred. The apportionment of the space amongst the different collections of Natural History must be left to more competent authorities than the present writer. He may, however, add a few words on the general character of the apartments comprehended in the transfer. |Public Galleries.| The public galleries are similar to the present Zoological Galleries, not merely in their structure, but in their fittings. The wall-cases, therefore, might be available, without alteration, for the new collections; and the central cases might either be retained for Natural History, or removed to the new upper floors for Antiquities, as was found more convenient. |Studies for officers and students.| The present Medal and Ornament Rooms might serve for the use of students, whilst the four private studies numbered 6, 7, 10, and 10 in Plan 18, would be used by the officers. |Suggestion for increasing those for students.| The rooms for students might, if necessary, be further increased by a trifling alteration, in the event of the official establishment being transferred to the east of the Museum. In place of the closet adjoining the Medal Room, a private staircase might descend by a few steps to the entresol below, the whole of which might then be made an appendage to the upper, instead of the lower floor, and would furnish two convenient rooms for students, over those numbered 4 and 6 in Plan 17. The same staircase, falling in with one already existing between the entresol and Secretary’s Office, would supply a private communication between the upper and lower floors, in lieu of that abolished for the construction of the First Egyptian Room (III, 69).
Summary of space for Natural History.
The total area of the apartments transferred to Natural History may be summarily stated thus:—
| Without Entresol. | With Entresol. | ||
|---|---|---|---|
| Public Galleries: | |||
| Present Galleries of Antiquities | 19,185 | ||
| Proposed room over III (69) | 2,660 | ||
| 21,845 | 21,845 | ||
| Students’ Working Rooms | 1,749 | 3,168 | |
| Officers’ Studies | 868 | 868 | |
| Closets, Passages, and Staircase | 936 | 1,557 | |
| Total addition | 25,398 | 27,438 |
Convenience of giving it a distinct floor.