Rick Mather Museum Ready

1 November 2009 (Last Updated November 1st, 2009 18:30)

The UK's Ashmolean Museum of Art and Archaeology in Oxford, designed by London's Rick Mather Architects, will be unveiled this month. The structure has undergone a £61m renovation to offer additional display space and is famed as the world's first university museum. The UK's H

The UK's Ashmolean Museum of Art and Archaeology in Oxford, designed by London's Rick Mather Architects, will be unveiled this month.

The structure has undergone a £61m renovation to offer additional display space and is famed as the world's first university museum.

The UK's Heritage Lottery Fund provided £15m for the redevelopment project.

The renovation offers more space with 39 galleries, four temporary exhibition galleries, a new education centre, and conservation studios with environmental control options.

The museum also houses Oxford's first rooftop restaurant - The Ashmolean Dining Room.

Themed galleries are present on the ground floor, while the floors above are arranged chronologically and each floor features orientation galleries.

The Grade I-listed building was built in 1845 and was originally designed by Charles Cockerell.