The Cutty Sark was built in 1869 for the Jock Willis shipping line, and for the entirety of its 85-year history the ship brought 200 million cups of tea from China to England with each and every trip. The ship was dry-docked in 1954 and put on display for the public; however, just in time for the London 2012 Olympics, Cutty Sark Enterprises approached Grimshaw Architects to revamp the permanent exhibition, and the final result is enough to take your breath away. Ben Webb has written a terrific story on the renovation for Yatzer, and the following is a small excerpt: “The renovation of the ship’s interior has cleverly married the new interactive exhibition with the traditional craft techniques allowing visitors to casually explore its history. Elm decks have been restored to their original red stain while metal work and bulging pop rivets have been painted in contrasting white and grey. Lower deck floors are lined with replica tea boxes that once packed the cargo hold and decks of the vessel whilst carefully selected artefacts and relics from the ships illustrious history adorn the upper deck in simple glass cabinets.” You can read the full story by visiting Yatzer.com. (All photos taken by Ben Webb for Yatzer).
