Museum storage unlocked: v&a east storehouse redefines access
Forget hushed galleries and velvet ropes. The Victoria and Albert Museum has ripped up the rulebook, inviting the public into the heart of its vast collection – a 16,000-square-meter working archive that’s part storage facility, part exhibition space, and entirely revolutionary.
A cabinet of curiosities for the 21st century
The V&A East Storehouse, which opened its doors last May, isn't just a place to see artifacts; it’s a place to witness the mechanics of museum life. Imagine peering at a life-size recreation of Frank Lloyd Wright’s 1930s Kaufmann Office, or studying a 17th-century marble colonnade from Mughal India—a structure comprised of five columns, intricately inlaid with semi-precious stones – alongside David Bowie’s personal archive. The sheer breadth of objects on display, numbering 250,000 items, 350,000 books, and 1,000 archives, is staggering. And it’s all accessible, pre-order permitting, to anyone with a curious mind.
But how does a museum expose its inner workings without compromising the integrity of its collection? The answer, it seems, lies with Diller Scofidio + Renfro, the New York-based architecture firm known for transforming a disused railway line in NYC into the High Line. Their task: to remodel the former London 2012 Olympics Media and Broadcast Centre (now Here East) into a space worthy of this national treasure.
Elizabeth Diller, partner-in-charge, insists this isn’t about theatrical presentation. “This is not scenography – it’s a working building,” she explains. “We wanted people to be breathing the same air as the artefacts, so we removed the usual barrier between the visitor and the work.” The result is a radical inversion of the traditional museum layout. Visitors are immediately plunged into the Collections Hall, a sprawling atrium punctuated by display platforms showcasing everything from a 1954 Cristóbal Balenciaga gown (the balloon hem inspiring the architectural design of the nearby V&A East museum) to open crates revealing the raw materials of history.
The design reflects the operational reality of a museum. Roller storage units, forklifts, and conservation labs are all on display, blurring the lines between the ‘back of house’ and the visitor experience. “To realize the project, everyone had to step out of their comfort zone,” says David Allin, principal and project director. “Curators became storage experts, technical services staff acted as exhibition designers, and we, as architects, learned to be collection managers.”
Kate Parsons, director of conservation, collections care & access at the Victoria and Albert Museum, underlines the commitment to accessibility. “From the very start we were clear that we wanted to remove every barrier from the public being able to access these kinds of objects,” she states. “We want the access to be easy, equitable, safe and meaningful.” The move has already sparked a surge of interest, particularly among young people discovering the V&A’s resources at the start of their careers, fueled by the vibrant creative history of East London.
The V&A East Storehouse isn’t just a museum; it’s an invitation to participate in the ongoing story of cultural preservation. And with free admission, it's an opportunity too good to miss.