The V&A East has chosen architecture and design practice JA Projects, graphic design studio A Practice for Everyday Life and artist Larry Achiampong to design its new ‘Why We Make’ galleries.
The collaborative team won a competition to design two ‘Why We Make’ exhibition spaces in the V&A East Museum, due to open in 2025 at Stratford’s Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park.
The galleries will feature more than 500 objects from the V&A’s collections across 5,000 years of art, design and performance. The design team will create immersive visitor experiences alongside “quieter opportunities for contemplation”.
Claire McKeown, V&A East project director, said JA Projects, A Practice for Everyday Life and Larry Achiampong’s response to the design brief was “fantastic”.
The team’s “passion for east London and to create inclusive spaces, take an audience-first approach, and embed sustainability within every step of their design process shone through”, McKeown added.
“We can’t wait for them to challenge us with new approaches to museum display and ensure we’re putting the needs of our audiences first to create spaces where everyone feels welcome at V&A East Museum.”
The Why We Make galleries will be welcoming social spaces offering pop-up events and performances. They will also include a dedicated film room for screenings.
Jayden Ali, founding director of JA Projects, said the group is looking to “dismantle historic barriers and foster new communities, and to contribute to V&A East’s mission to amplify the voices of the artists, designers and makers that have been overlooked by history”.
“East London means home for every member of our team. Larry Achiampong and I grew up together in Bethnal Green and the A Practice for Everyday Life studio is located there,” Ali said.
New V&A museum to open in 2025
“We’re honoured to contribute to east London, the place of our grandparents, parents, children and friends.”
Designed by O’Donnell & Tuomey, the V&A East Museum is located in Stratford’s East Bank development, a £1.1 billion project.
It will be home to free galleries, ticketed temporary exhibitions, a creative studio, two retail spaces and a cafe.
The new museum is part of V&A East, which includes the V&A East Storehouse. The collection and research centre is set to open in 2024 at Here East.
Images: V&A
