Ralph Appelbaum Associates

The SS Great Britain Trust appointed RAA to reimagine Bristol Dockyards, the gateway to Brunel’s SS Great Britain, which was the world’s first ocean-going iron-hulled, propeller-driven ship. Replacing an engineering-focused narrative, the Trust sought a more people-centered experience that would connect contemporary audiences to the ship’s global significance while prioritizing accessibility and community collaboration.

RAA’s concept, “Reimagining the Wonder,” draws on the awe inspired by the vessel in the 19th century. Visitors follow the ship’s working life through a chronological sequence of galleries spanning Bristol, Liverpool, New York, Crimea, India, Australia, and San Francisco. Together, these spaces explore themes of migration, trade, empire, and identity, culminating in direct access to the ship itself.

A modular timber framework unifies the exhibition, working with the existing industrial architecture rather than concealing it. Rich color palettes, exposed metal fixings, varied timber finishes, and soft fabrics evoke both the ship’s luxury and its industrial context. The system was intentionally designed for flexibility, enabling future updates as research and community partnerships evolve.

A defining feature is the “Key People” framework: life-size encounters with historical and contemporary figures—including shipbuilders, emigrants, military personnel, and artists—that ensure the story remains grounded in human experience. Central to the project was collaboration with the Trust’s Community Advisory and Research Group, whose members helped integrate perspectives previously absent from the museum. The result is a vibrant, inclusive introduction to the SS Great Britain and its enduring global legacy.