The Horniman Museum and Gardens has selected British architects Studio West Egret (SWE) to develop a master plan to expand its estate.

SEW will lead the design for a number of as-yet-undescribed projects, which – when complete – will help the South London institution work towards its goal of attracting a million visitors a year by 2023.

First founded in Edwardian times, the museum currently boasts a collection of more than 350,000 natural history artefacts.

Last year, the Horniman opened two new spaces – the World Gallery and the Studio – in a move to broaden its cultural programming. Both projects formed part of the museum’s £3.3m (US$4.2m, €3.7m) anthropology redisplay project, which was supported by the Heritage Lottery Fund.

Speaking on the master plan, David West, founding director a SEW, said: "We are delighted to work with the Horniman, an institution and place that we have much personal affiliation and admiration for.

"We see so much potential to expand the nature and breadth of the draw of the Horniman Museum and Gardens through carefully considered interventions and programmes within a multi-layered landscape.”

Nick Merriman, chief executive at Horniman, commented: "Studio Egret West stood out for us during the tender process because of their extensive experience, their consultative practice, their enthusiasm for the Horniman as visitors themselves, and their creative yet realistic take on what our future could look like."

Other members of the project team include management consultancy Fourth Street, infrastructure advisers Expedition Engineers, and heritage consultant Michael Copeman.

SEW’s proposals will be officially presented to the Horniman’s Trustees in July 2019.