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‘Exalting’, ‘transcendental’, and ‘impeccable’. These are just some of the words used by critics in their praise of the V&A’s new Medieval and Renaissance Galleries.
The purpose of the new galleries was simply to enable this spectacular collection to be properly displayed, previously hampered by poor circulation, light and disabled access.
The architects exploited space within light wells and introduced a delicate, undulating glass roof supported by translucent glass beams, spanning up to 9.5m. This created a new day-lit gallery, also serving as a hub connecting the galleries and providing access to six levels of the museum.
The V&A is a Grade I listed building, and this project – the first new-build gallery space in the museum for more than 100 years – recovered the scale, proportion and rhythm of the spaces while also meeting modern standards of accessibility and sustainability. It has allowed what is arguably the most impressive collection of medieval and renaissance objects in the world to be displayed in the splendour it deserves.
"A successful blend of conservation and new installations."