The V&A East Storehouse, set to open next May in London’s Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park, is gearing up to provide unparalleled access to the museum’s reserve collection. The Storehouse, located within the former International Broadcast Centre from the 2012 Olympics, has been designed by renowned architects Diller Scofidio + Renfro and will house over 250,000 objects, 350,000 library books, and nearly 1,000 archives.
This new facility is part of the larger East Bank culture and education cluster at Stratford Waterfront, which includes the new V&A East Museum set to open in 2026. The Storehouse will offer daily opportunities for the public to explore the collections that were previously kept at Blythe House in West Kensington. The Storehouse aims to make the museum’s vast collection more accessible to a wider audience, beyond just academics and historians.
Visitors to the Storehouse will have the chance to view items ranging from the Agra Colonnade to the David Bowie Archive. The space is designed to be open and inviting, encouraging people to drop in, wander around, and learn more about the objects on display. The Storehouse will also offer an “order an object service,” allowing visitors to book appointments to see specific items of interest.
One of the key goals of the Storehouse is to engage with audiences who may not typically visit museums, including local residents and schools. The project is a testament to the ongoing legacy of the 2012 Olympics and the city’s commitment to making cultural institutions more accessible to everyone. With the Storehouse, the V&A is pioneering a new model for public engagement with museum collections.
Tim Reeve, the V&A’s deputy director, emphasized the importance of this new venture in reaching out to diverse audiences and creating a unique experience for visitors. The Storehouse represents a blend of opportunity and necessity, aiming to redefine how national collections are accessed and experienced. As London’s cultural landscape continues to evolve, the V&A East Storehouse stands as a testament to the city’s rich history and commitment to innovation in the arts.
