JA Projects wins V&A East Museum galleries fit-out competition
Merlin Fulcher writes for the AJ about how the collaborative team comprised of JA Projects led by Jayden Ali, graphic design studio A Practice for Everyday Life, and artist Larry Achiampong defeated bids from a shortlist of 35 submissions to design two exhibition spaces inside the Victoria and Albert Museum’s new east London outpost.
The team will now draw up plans for a pair of £1.4-to-1.7 million gallery spaces within the O’Donnell + Tuomey-designed V&A East Museum, which topped out last December and is due to open in 2025.
JA Projects founding director Jayden Ali said: ‘We wanted to be part of a bold and ambitious project that seeks to dismantle historic barriers and foster new communities, and to contribute to V&A East’s mission to amplify the voices of the artists, designers and makers that have been overlooked by history.
‘At the heart of our proposal for V&A East Museum’s Why We Make galleries is a vision of the museum as “a museum between cultures” – a framing that honours the V&A’s heritage of presenting crafted narratives from across the globe, and also encapsulates the diversity of the four boroughs surrounding the Olympic Park.
‘East London means home for every member of our team. Larry Achiampong and I grew up together in Bethnal Green and the A Practice for Everyday Life studio is located there. We’re honoured to contribute to east London, the place of our grandparents, parents, children and friends.’
The appointment will cover the design and delivery of two Why We Make collection galleries across two floors, subdivided into 10 thematic sections, each presented as a series of ‘constellation-like’ displays.
V&A East project director Claire McKeown said: ‘JA Projects, A Practice for Everyday Life and Larry Achiampong’s response to our Why We Make galleries design brief was fantastic. Their passion for east London and to create inclusive spaces, take an audience-first approach and embed sustainability within every step of their design process shone through.
‘We’re thrilled to have a team that includes an exciting emerging architecture practice, established 2D design talent and a thought-provoking artist. We can’t wait for them to challenge us with new approaches to museum display and ensure we’re putting the needs of our audiences first to create spaces where everyone feels welcome at V&A East Museum.’
-
Read the full article in the Architect’s Journal
Image credit: Early concept design for Our Place In The World section of V&A East Museum’s Why We Make Galleries © JA Projects. Image courtesy of Victoria and Albert Museum, London