The Competition
The Victoria and Albert Museum wished to create a major new gallery with the capacity to deliver its high-profile programme of temporary exhibitions, a new museum entrance and a courtyard to create an informal and inviting relationship with Exhibition Road.
The gallery, providing approximately 1500m2 of relatively uninterrupted (column-free) exhibition space, will be formed below street level, on the only undeveloped site in the Museum. Above the gallery there will be a new external courtyard-style space, linking the V&A to Exhibition Road through Sir Aston Webb’s historic arched stone screen and creating a new entrance into the museum. The new courtyard is a flexible space that can be used for installations, performances, and a cafe.
JFA were invited to submit an architectural study for the site. The study included a model of brass and alabaster, which was exhibited at the V&A. A competition was then announced for the development of the site, and JFA were delighted to make the short list of seven practices.
