THE EXHIBITION ROAD PROJECT
The Exhibition Road Building Project is part of the V&A’s FuturePlan Phase 2. AL_A won an international com- petition in March 2011 to design a large, underground exhibition gallery, public courtyard, improved entrance and use of the west side of the V&A’s Grade 1 listed buildings, which haven’t been on public view before. Work is expected to be completed by 2016.
Above: The new courtyard’s design turns the space into an outdoor room; (right) the Aston Webb screen will now reveal the view rather than conceal it
The gallery itself will be a new home for a full programme of world-class exhibitions. The expression of the folded plate ceiling is derived entirely from its function – it spans the whole 30m (98ft)-width without columns and soars over the visitor, despite being underground. The structural solution of the ceiling generates the pattern of the courtyard above, making visitors in both the gallery and the courtyard conscious of the energy and rhythm above and below.
WHAT WAS YOUR INSPIRATION?
The museum itself. As the home of the very best in contemporary design, the V&A has long been a rich inspiration for all of our studio’s work. We used it as a source book and reference point for the design – not only its collections and programme, but also the architecture and design of its beautiful buildings. We were inspired by the V&A’s role in
promoting the art and craft of manufacture. Our use of ceramics across the project,
AM 3 2012 ©cybertrek 2012
from the courtyard to the café roof, is the direct result of exploring the museum’s col- lections. Our design for the gallery follows in the neo-Gothic and neo-Classic tradition of ornate ceilings.
WHAT DID AL_A ADD TO THE BRIEF?
Our design is a response to a visionary brief from the V&A. We wanted the focus from the street to be on the creation of a new public space rather than a building. We envisioned the visitor as the hero. We imagined the experience of their journey and what would delight and inspire them. Bringing daylight into the new gallery wasn’t part of the brief, but we thought
it would be a missed opportunity if the potential remained untapped. We’ve incor- porated an oculus into the courtyard to provide daylight into the gallery below and offer visual interest in the courtyard above. This provides moments of drama in exhi- bitions and enables exhibition changeover to be carried out with daylight. It also helps create that relationship between the court- yard and the gallery. The oculus is reconceived as a vitrine,
offering partial views of the folded plate and exhibition gallery below.
WHY WAS YOUR DESIGN CHOSEN? Because it was the best!
Read Attractions Management online
attractionsmanagement.com/digital 27
PICS: ©AL_A
Page 1 |
Page 2 |
Page 3 |
Page 4 |
Page 5 |
Page 6 |
Page 7 |
Page 8 |
Page 9 |
Page 10 |
Page 11 |
Page 12 |
Page 13 |
Page 14 |
Page 15 |
Page 16 |
Page 17 |
Page 18 |
Page 19 |
Page 20 |
Page 21 |
Page 22 |
Page 23 |
Page 24 |
Page 25 |
Page 26 |
Page 27 |
Page 28 |
Page 29 |
Page 30 |
Page 31 |
Page 32 |
Page 33 |
Page 34 |
Page 35 |
Page 36 |
Page 37 |
Page 38 |
Page 39 |
Page 40 |
Page 41 |
Page 42 |
Page 43 |
Page 44 |
Page 45 |
Page 46 |
Page 47 |
Page 48 |
Page 49 |
Page 50 |
Page 51 |
Page 52 |
Page 53 |
Page 54 |
Page 55 |
Page 56 |
Page 57 |
Page 58 |
Page 59 |
Page 60 |
Page 61 |
Page 62 |
Page 63 |
Page 64 |
Page 65 |
Page 66 |
Page 67 |
Page 68 |
Page 69 |
Page 70 |
Page 71 |
Page 72 |
Page 73 |
Page 74 |
Page 75 |
Page 76 |
Page 77 |
Page 78 |
Page 79 |
Page 80 |
Page 81 |
Page 82 |
Page 83 |
Page 84 |
Page 85 |
Page 86