Spanning over 16,000 m\u00b2, it houses more than 250,000 objects, 350,000 books, and 1,000 archives, spread across four interconnected levels. Most importantly, the entire space has been designed for visitors to explore.<\/p>\n
From store to stage<\/h6>\n
Traditionally, museum storage spaces have been hidden from public view. Here, the logic is reversed. The Storehouse<\/em> is an open invitation to step behind the scenes.<\/p>\n As Tim Reeve<\/em>, Deputy Director and COO<\/em> of the V&A<\/em>, explains: “The V&A East Storehouse is a completely new experience: a kind of backstage pass into the wonder of a working museum”<\/em>.<\/p>\n And he\u2019s not exaggerating. From the moment you enter the Weston Collections Hall<\/em>, you\u2019re greeted by a breathtaking panorama of carefully organised objects \u2014 not arranged by strict chronological or thematic order, but evoking a “contemporary Cabinet of Curiosities”<\/em> where the visitor\u2019s own curiosity shapes the journey.<\/p>\n One of the Storehouse<\/em>\u2019s most remarkable innovations is its Order an Object<\/em> service.<\/p>\n This free platform, available seven days a week, allows anyone to request access to a specific object from the collection \u2014 from Balenciaga<\/em> haute couture gowns and 14th-century ceramics to contemporary art, photographs by Julia Margaret Cameron<\/em>, legendary band T-shirts, theatre posters, or mid-century modern furniture.<\/p>\n Since its launch in May, more than 1,000 objects have been requested. The most popular so far? A pink silk evening gown designed by Crist\u00f3bal Balenciaga<\/em> in 1954 \u2014 proof of fashion\u2019s enduring power in design history.<\/p>\n Beyond its radical access model, the Storehouse<\/em> stands out for its participatory approach. Its programming includes collaborative projects with young people from East London<\/em>, local communities, contemporary artists, and makers. From new publications, films, interviews, and artworks to re-readings of historic pieces, every corner of the building comes alive with multiple voices and perspectives.<\/p>\n Here, art is not confined behind glass cases but becomes part of an ongoing conversation. This is especially evident in how large-scale pieces are displayed \u2014 from the 15th-century carved ceiling of the Palace of Torrijos<\/em> (Spain) to the largest Picasso<\/em> in the world, a monumental 1924 theatre curtain created for the Ballets Russes<\/em>.<\/p>\n The Storehouse<\/em> occupies what was once the Media and Broadcast Centre <\/em>of the London 2012 Olympic Games<\/em>. Its transformation is an architectural feat in itself.<\/p>\n Diller Scofidio + Renfro<\/em> have achieved a fascinating balance between the building\u2019s original industrial aesthetic and a sensitive, visitor-friendly museum environment. Everything is designed to enhance the experience: from self-guided tours to visible conservation spaces where visitors can watch objects being cared for up close.<\/p>\n Even the furniture and signage were created by innovative studios such as Fieldwork Facility<\/em> and We Not I<\/em>, reinforcing a coherent, futuristic, and accessible visual identity.<\/p>\n A highlight of the Storehouse<\/em> is the Weston Collections Hall<\/em>, which hosts more than 100 micro-exhibitions. Among the stand-out pieces are:<\/p>\n – The Kaufmann Office<\/em> by Frank Lloyd Wright<\/em> (1930) \u2014 the only complete interior by the architect outside the US.<\/p>\n – A Frankfurt Kitchen<\/em> designed by Margarete Sch\u00fctte-Lihotzky<\/em>, a pioneer of functional design.<\/p>\n – The aforementioned Picasso<\/em> stage curtain, measuring 10 metres high by 11 metres wide.<\/p>\n – Modern architectural elements such as a section of the controversial Robin Hood Gardens<\/em>.<\/p>\n – Pop and contemporary items like PJ Harvey<\/em>\u2019s guitars, models of the 2012 Olympic<\/em> cauldron, and vintage football shirts.<\/p>\n Each item tells its own story, but also forms part of a broader narrative \u2014 a collective reflection on what we value, preserve, and celebrate as a society.<\/p>\n The Storehouse<\/em> is not only home to objects, but also to knowledge. Visitors can consult archives, access books from the National Art Library<\/em>, and take part in events, workshops, and guided tours.<\/p>\n It also features its own caf\u00e9 \u2014 the e5 Storehouse<\/em> \u2014 perfect for pausing to digest the day\u2019s discoveries.<\/p>\n And this is only the beginning: on 13 September 2025, the David Bowie Centre<\/em> will open, housing the legendary British artist\u2019s archive of over 80,000 items. It will be another milestone for East Bank<\/em> and a testament to the V&A<\/em>\u2019s commitment to connecting the culture of the past with the voices of the present.<\/p>\n The V&A East Storehouse<\/em> is part of an ambitious cultural project led by the Mayor of London. Alongside institutions such as the London College of Fashion<\/em>, BBC Music Studios<\/em>, Sadler\u2019s Wells East<\/em>, and University College London<\/em>, this new district aims to democratise access to culture and decentralise the city\u2019s artistic life.<\/p>\n As Mayor Sadiq Khan<\/em> puts it: “This is the most ambitious cultural project in decades, ensuring that London remains the creative capital of the world”<\/em>.<\/p>\n If you\u2019re in London, the V&A East Storehouse<\/em> is unmissable. Whether your passion is design, fashion, architecture, contemporary art \u2014 or simply curiosity about how our cultural heritage is preserved \u2014 you will find inspiration here.<\/p>\n It is a space that celebrates diversity, promotes open access, challenges traditional museum models, and offers a rich, emotional, and utterly unique experience.<\/p>\n (*)<\/strong> Photos courtesy of V&A East Storehouse. \u00a9Hufton+Crow.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" A museum of the future, today Designed by the acclaimed studio Diller Scofidio + Renfro, the V&A East Storehouse is far more than an art archive: it is a tribute to the diversity, creativity, and material history of our visual culture. Spanning over 16,000 m\u00b2, it houses more than 250,000 objects, 350,000 books, and 1,000 […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":4,"featured_media":90401,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[5957,5918,5916,5902,5901,5900],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-90615","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-design-en","category-inspiration-en-2","category-inspiration-en","category-exhibitions","category-artists","category-art-en"],"acf":[],"yoast_head":"\n![\"\"](\"https:\/\/ccmagazine.es\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/08\/DSR_VA-East-Storehouse_\u00a9HuftonCrow_11.jpg\")
<\/p>\nRadical access: order an object<\/h6>\n
\u201cThe V&A East Storehouse is a completely new experience: a kind of backstage pass into the wonder of a working museum.\u201d<\/h2>\n
A Museum in motion<\/h6>\n
Design with vision: between industrial and poetic<\/h6>\n
Objects with history, stories with soul<\/h6>\n
A living archive for all<\/h6>\n
![\"\"](\"https:\/\/ccmagazine.es\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/08\/Striped-bodysuit-for-Aladdin-Sane-tour-1973-Design-by-Kansai-Yamamoto-Photograph-by-Masayoshi-Sukita-\u00a9-Sukita-The-David-Bowie-Archive-2012.jpg\")
<\/p>\nA new cultural epicentre in London<\/h6>\n
In summary: why you should visit<\/h6>\n