koninklijke tichelaar makkum tiles V&A exhibition road project by AL_A

koninklijke tichelaar makkum tiles V&A exhibition road project by AL_A
image courtesy of AL_A

designed by architecture office AL_A based on a winning competition proposal in 2011, the ‘exhibition road building project‘ adds a new entrance, courtyard, and galleries to the victoria & albert museum in london. the scheme places the exhibition space, specified for temporary displays, below ground, in order to entirely maintain the original structure. with its walls, floors, and roof lined in tile, the plaza and café will be the first in the UK to be finished with porcelain, supplied by the dutch ceramics company koninklijke tichelaar makkum. construction on the museum extension began in january 2014, with a projected opening set for early 2017.

a rendered animation provides walk-through views of the V&A museum’s new entrance, courtyard, and gallery
video courtesy of AL_A

led by architect amanda levete, the design seeks to increase the museum’s openness to the public, offering permeable connections among the street, the courtyard, and the subterranean exhibition space. the landscape is broken up by a wide staircase and large skylight,which illuminates the gallery below. a separate faceted building form rises between the existing buildings to to cover the museum’s interior and house a café. located 15 meters below grade, the 1,500 square meter display area features deep structural fins, which are arranged with undulating geometry to create a dynamic ceiling-scape.

the exhibition space is housed below the courtyard and café
image courtesy of AL_A

the renovation maintains the original museum structure
image courtesy of AL_A

skylights illuminate the large exhibition hall
image courtesy of AL_A

glass curtain walls allow for maximum transparency between the courtyard and museum interior
image courtesy of AL_A

image courtesy of AL_A

a walk by the aston webb screen gates which enclose the courtyard
video courtesy of AL_A

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