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London never stops: five months after the opening of the new wing of the Tate Modern, the Design Museum is ready to open its doors in its new home, the former Commonwealth Institute, in Kensington.
The museum moves from its previous premise in Shad Thames, a former banana ripening warehouse, and triples its size. The new museum is located on Kensington High Street.
The modernist building from the 1960s has been completely restored by OMA, Allies and Morrison and Arup and the interior by John Pawson: the big central atrium will be the heart of the museum space, gallery and events space are arranged like an opencast mine around it, overlooking the scenic ceiling structure.
After 5 years of work and an investment of £83 million the new Design Museum will open its doors on Thursday, November 24, and it will be the largest and most important design museum in the world.
10,000sqm dedicated to exhibition and event spaces, permanent collection, archive, library, auditorium, cafè, restaurant, a shop with a world-class selection of international magazines, exclusive designer collaborations and specialist art and design books in collaboration with Phaidon.
The Design Museum was founded by Sir Terence Conran (yes, that Terence Conran of the Conran Shop!) in 1989, which now states:
“It really does feel like our moment has arrived and that the importance of design to our lives is now truly appreciated. I hope we can now educate, inspire and delight future generations for years to come and truly make a difference to the world around us.’”
Expected to attract 650,000 visitors in its first year, the Design Museum combines architecture, product design, technology, graphics and fashion to investigate the form, function and meaning of the world around us.
I can’t wait to visit it!
Photos Design Museum – Credits Helene Binet/Luke Hayes/Gravity Road/Gareth Gardner