design society museum set to open in october 2017

design society, a cultural hub currently under construction in the chinese city of shenzhen, will open to the public in october 2017. designed by japanese architect fumihiko maki, the institution will house a new V&A gallery — a collaboration that is the first of its kind between a UK museum and a chinese partner. situated within the sea world culture and arts center in shenzhen’s shekou district, ‘design society’ is intended as an open and collaborative platform. the museum seeks to connect china to the world, fostering connections between design and society, everyday life, and industry.

design society is a cultural hub currently under construction in shenzhen
image © design society

‘design society’ is the result of an international partnership between state-owned company china merchants shekou holdings (CMSK) and london’s victoria and albert museum. as a founding partner, the V&A has developed a gallery dedicated to 20th and 21st century international design. the institution will host two major V&A touring exhibitions in both 2018 and 2019.

the building has been designed by japanese architect fumihiko maki
image © design society

built by architecture firm maki and associates, the scheme will showcase important works from the past, present and future — spanning all major creative disciplines. the new V&A gallery will include pieces drawn from fashion, photography, furniture, product and graphic design, theater, and performance. other programming includes a main hall dedicated to digital design — an area critical in china’s shift from a manufacturing center to an innovation hub — a 330-seat theater, various retail outlets, and other public areas such as a roof garden and a multipurpose hall with sea views.

a new V&A gallery is included as part of the development
image © design society

‘shenzhen has been widely recognized as a hotbed of chinese creativity,’ says ole bouman, director of design society. ‘in the last 36 years it has allowed countless newcomers to apply their ingenuity to build a future; to literally design their life. by way of our pioneering collaboration with the V&A, this culture of aspiration now meets the richness of international design heritage and the curatorial intelligence of its current leadership. the forthcoming opening of design society in october 2017 will mean a fantastic showcase of the power of design today.’

the scheme is situated within the sea world culture and arts center in shenzhen’s shekou district
image © design society

‘for the V&A, this important international initiative represents a new way of engaging more deeply with china at a pivotal moment in its design history,’ adds tim reeve, acting director of the V&A. ‘it’s a pioneering collaboration that will come to life when both design society and our new, dedicated V&A gallery opens in october 2017.’

see designboom’s previous coverage of the project here.

design society is a partnership between china merchants shekou holdings (CMSK) and the V&A
image © design society