V&A Exhibition Rd Shop

An adaptable, freestanding visitor shop was required to accommodate the varying merchandise accompanying exhibitions to be held in the basement gallery extension of the new Exhibition Road Extension of the V&A Museum, by AL_A. The irregularly-shaped volume, with a ceiling height rising to 9.0m and a roof light framing the protected view towards the original, decorative façade of the Henry Cole wing, together with tight constraints on circulation to and from staircases leading to the exhibition space, significantly impacted on the design.

The competition-winning solution developed by Mark Pinney Associates creates a series of 4.5m high, demountable pivoting frames with slender, bespoke extruded sections developed with Vitra. The open frames are retained at their head by a diamond grid steel lattice structure which is tied back to a service wall at one end and supported at the other by a fixed sign panel. Each frame can be fitted with a combination of shelves, hang rails, storage bunkers and showcases to display a wide variety of merchandise specifically related to the current exhibition. The upper levels of these frames provide an opportunity for high level display, and establish visibility for visitors from the entrance courtyard. The frames can be pivoted and or removed to allow differing circulation routes around displays and through the space. Perimeter units combining cash wraps and display cases for small products provide much needed back stock storage.

Directional down lighting integrated into the lattice provides general lighting to the space and conceals uplighting to the high level ceiling, whilst LED lighting attached to individual shelves and display fixtures, provide local illumination to products.

The high visitor traffic expected at the exhibitions required the use of robust materials, and the selection of a nickel-rich alloy of stainless steel with a bead blasted surface finish, together with a soft-touch surface of warm black Fenix, with a nano-tech, repairable surface, create a visually warm colour palette.

Although small in scale, the project brought together engineering expertise and specialist manufacturing from companies in the UK, Europe and China.