Victoria & Albert Museum in London Unveils Exhibition Road Project Designs

LONDON.- On 2 March 2011 the V&A unveiled the design proposals by the seven architectural teams shortlisted for the V&A’s Exhibition Road Project with a display of the models in the Sackler Centre. The exhibition is on display from March 2 through April 3, 2011.

The seven shortlisted companies are:

• Amanda Levete Architects (London)
• Heneghan.peng.architects (Dublin)
• Jamie Fobert Architects (London)
• Jun Aoki & Associates (Tokyo)
• Michael Maltzan Architecture (Los Angeles)
• Snøhetta and Hoskins (Oslo and Glasgow)
• Tony Fretton Architects (London)

Steve McGuckin, V&A Trustee and chair of the jury, said: “The shortlisted teams have all come up with highly creative and well thought through design solutions for this complex V&A site. Choosing a winning team to lead the Exhibition Road Project will not be an easy decision for the jury.”

Sir Mark Jones, V&A Director, said: “We are delighted by the quality of the design solutions put forward by the seven shortlisted teams, who are among the most exciting and creative architectural practices working today.”

The Exhibition Road Project is the V&A’s ambition to create a purpose built new gallery in which to present the Museum’s high-profile programme of temporary exhibitions, a public courtyard set within the beautiful historic facades of the V&A’s Grade 1 listed buildings and a new entrance on Exhibition Road through the Aston Webb screen. The new gallery will be below street level with a courtyard above that will house a café and be used for installations and events.

The V&A launched an international competition to find a design team to help it realise this vision. Over 110 architectural teams from all over the world expressed interest in being considered for the project. A jury, chaired by V&A Trustee, Steve McGuckin chose seven practices who were invited to submit design proposals for the project.

The jury are now in the process of visiting existing projects by all of the architects and obtaining client references to help inform their decision making. The winning team will be announced at the end of March.

The project is part of the V&A’s ongoing FuturePlan to transform the Museum and will contribute to the development and semi-pedestrianisation of Exhibition Road led by The Royal Borough of Kensington and Chelsea.

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