Today planning permission for a new extension to the V&A has officially been granted to architecture firm, AL_A. The £41 million project, which will be the biggest new art space in London since the Tate Modern, will encompass a 1,500 square metre underground gallery for temporary exhibitions, public courtyard and entrance on Exhibition Road.
AL_A won the international competition to design the new extension in March 2011, beating practices such as Heneghan Peng, Snøhetta and Jamie Fobert. Commenting in an interview with Crane.tv, AL_A principal, Amanda Levete, expressed their delight saying, '...the V&A is the home of art and architecture and it doesn't really get much better than that.'
The design optimises space whilst complementing and utilising the history of the original building. A subterranean gallery space will be illuminated by natural light. The ceiling itself is made from a folded plate spanning 30 metres. The design of the plate not only takes inspiration from neo-gothic and neo-classic ornate ceilings but was also used to generate the pattern of the courtyard pavement.
Another key aspect of the design is the idea of creating a new public space by opening the courtyard onto the pavement and merging these spaces. Levete hopes that this will encourage more people to visit the museum saying that, 'it has never been more important in society to engage with the very widest audiences. The hope is that people will go to this courtyard just because they want to go to the courtyard, and then they will get excited about the V&A'.
Having spoken out against certain politicians for their lack of support for modern British architecture, Levete hopes that this year events such as the Olympics, will help to alter these attitudes. She urges us all to realise the importance of great architecture 'for Londoners, for the identity and the confidence of a city. [...] It goes to the heart of what it is to be human and of course we have to invest in our cities and we have to be brave'.
Text by Angelica Pursley for Crane.tv
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