The Victoria & Albert Museum — more commonly known at the V&A — is one of the world’s most well-renowned galleries. Home to over 2.3 million objects, the museum, for whom The Duchess of Cambridge is a patron, also houses the Jameel Gallery of Islamic Art in partnership with Art Jameel.
Now, plans have been revealed for a second museum to be built in London’s East End and the design has been inspired by one of fashion’s most respected names: Cristobal Balenciaga. The exterior of the building will be designed to look as though it is wrapped in one of the iconic designer’s dresses from the 1950s.
Speaking to the Evening Standard, Tristram Hunt, the museum’s Director, said, “V&A East will revolutionise how our world-class collections are accessed, create a new museum and open up opportunities for collaboration, learning and discover in ways we’ve never been able to before.”
According to the site, the design team from O’Donnell + Tuomey studied one of the most popular items in the V&A’s Balenciaga show last year, an X-ray photograph of a silk evening gown showing its structure.
The museum is set to open in 2023.
In the meantime, find out whether Balenciaga or Gucci is Kering’s fastest growing brand.
