The winner is Studio Weavewith Wright & Wright Architects, Webb Yates Engineers, Tom Massey Studio and Daisy Froud.The shortlist included Periscopewith Assemble; Publicawith Carmody Groarke; and EastArchitectureand Hayatsu Architects with Bradley-Hole Schoenaich Landscape.Collective Cultures comprising OMMX, AANF, Msoma Architects, YAA Projects with J&L Gibbons was also among the finalists.AdvertisementThis contest was only open to members of Lot 4 of the Greater London Authoritys Architecture + Urbanism Framework.The project is intended as a rapid, high-quality response to improve the museums arrival experience, which currently involves an open-air queuing system and a series of temporary tent-like structures for security screening. The central London museum receives more than 6 million visitors annually.The scheme is intended to serve as a precursor to a permanent project reconsidering the complexs relationship to its surrounding public realm. This is expected in a later phase of the museums ongoing regeneration masterplan.The shortlisted teams were asked to develop high-quality, flexible and sustainable proposals, with a clear end-of-life plan that will also account for the reuse of any structures erected on the site.The winning team will now work with the British Museum and local partners to develop the designs and prepare a planning application, with new pavilions expected to be in place by spring 2026.AdvertisementThe entrances competition sitesNicholas Cullinan, director of the British Museum, said: As the most visited building in the UK, and one of the top three most visited museums in the world, first impressions count. With the visitor welcome pavilions were striving to create the most inspiring greeting possible for the 6.2 million people (and counting) from across the nation and around the world who come through our doors each year whether it's their first visit or fifteenth, aged five or 95.We were very impressed by Studio Weaves initial proposals. They perfectly balance athoughtful visitor experience while remaining true to the British Museums historic building. Im delighted to be working with them, and I look forward to leading the development of the designs in consultation with the London Borough of Camden and other key stakeholders to create something very special for everyone.Je Ahn,foundingdirector of Studio Weave, said: As Londoners, and long-term visitors, we are honoured to be part of this moment in the Museums history. With the entry, our team wanted to celebrate the British Museum as both a global and a local museum, and create an internationally exemplary space that will improve the experience of Great Russell Street and Montague Place for everybody.Our proposal aims to resolve complex issues on the site. The project will preserve the appearance of the historic Grade I-listed buildings, address the changing climate and look forward to the future of the institution. It will also introduce new soft landscaping and plants, dotted with engaging installations encouraging curiosity and becoming a memorable highlight of every visit.The winner announcement comes just four months after the British Museum revealed the five design teams shortlisted to overhaul more than a third of its gallery spaces and rework behind-the-scenes areas.It also coincides with initial design exercise models and images by the shortlisted teams going on display in the Museums Round Reading Room.The exercise asked each of the teams to provide visionary approaches for the project, alongside the outline design of a limited selection of museum displays, rather than to create concept designs for the scheme as a whole.That parallel contest, which launched before the welcome experience competition and has faced controversy due to financial backing from fossil fuel giant BP, focuses on the western area of the Grade I-listed museum, which currently hosts collections of Ancient Egyptian, Greek and Roman artefacts.The job will be the museums biggest building project since the 1820s when work began on Robert Smirkes original Greek Revival-style quadrangle. The 100,000m museum has around 3,500 different rooms and features more than eight million items in its permanent collection.Three years ago, the museum named four architects on a 45 million construction consultancy services framework: Avanti Architects, Dannatt Johnson Architects, Nex Architecture and Wright & Wright Architects.Stanton Williams completed a new Albukhary Foundation Gallery of the Islamic World at the British Museum in 2019. In 2014, RSHP completed the museums World Conservation and Exhibitions Centre extension.The entrances shortlistCollective Cultures (OMMX, AANF, Msoma Architects, YAA Projects) with J&L GibbonsEastArchitectureand Hayatsu Architects with Bradley-Hole Schoenaich LandscapePeriscopewith AssemblePublicawith Carmody Groarke[WINNER] Studio Weave with Wright & Wright Architects, Webb Yates Engineers, Tom Massey Studio and Daisy Froud