With the V&A East Storehouse now completed, the V&A is set to start the biggest relocation of its collection in its history.
This month, the Victoria and Albert Museum will begin the move of 250,000 objects, 1,000 archives and 350,000 books to its new home at V&A East Storehouse. The move will take around 12 months in between two to four lorries every day.
To mark the occasion, the museum has released a new flythrough video and new CGI renders of the V&A East Storehouse experience.
“The end of construction and start of the collection move is a thrilling moment in the creation of a unique new cultural experience for the British public and the museums’ world,” said Tim Reeve, deputy director and COO of the V&A.
“V&A East Storehouse will house the majority of the V&A’s collections, with a dramatic, self-guided visitor experience running throughout, which transforms access, maximises transparency, and removes barriers to the creative riches within the world’s leading collection of art, design and performance.”
The new collection and research centre is opening in spring 2025 as part of the £1.1 billion East Bank cultural hub in Stratford’s Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park.
New collection and research centre
V&A East Storehouse, one of two new V&A East sites, is designed by architects Diller Scofidio + Renfro. It will offer unprecedented public access to the institution’s collections all year.
It is home to a central collections hall, conservation labs, research and reading rooms with galleries, display and performance spaces, and creative studios.
Items moving to the centre include ancient Egyptian shoes, Naomi Campbell‘s iconic 1990s Vivienne Westwood platforms, early 20th century West African robes, and costumes worn by Charlie Chaplin and Elton John.
Other objects relocating to the new venue are 19th century Nepalese poison arrows, a drum kit played by The Who’s Keith Moon, and Japanese lacquer and swords.
As previously revealed, V&A East Storehouse will also house the 80,000-piece archive of material from the estate of David Bowie.
“Developing a new paradigm for public collections and civic spaces, V&A East Storehouse will present work by artists, designers, and performers in new ways and in new contexts,” Reeve added.
Relocating 250,000 objects
“V&A East Storehouse offers incomparable opportunities for the public to enjoy, learn from and discover the 5000-years of creativity housed within the V&A’s collections and archives.”
Sadiq Khan, London’s mayor, said East Bank is the city’s “biggest single investment in culture and education for over a century”. V&A East Storehouse, he added, “will offer Londoners and visitors a unique opportunity to see some incredible collections“.
Images: Diller Scofidio + Renfro
