Unveiling the Future of Museums: Inside the Construction of the V&A East Storehouse

At ORSA, we’re proud to have played a pivotal role as Principal Design Advisers in bringing the groundbreaking V&A East Storehouse to life—a project that is set to redefine how we experience, access, and engage with cultural collections. Located in London’s Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park within the Here East campus, this colossal new facility is more than just a store; it’s a dynamic space of discovery, innovation, and community.

A World First in Scale and Vision

Imagine a space larger than 30 basketball courts, spanning four levels, filled with over half a million objects from every corner of human creativity—fashion, sculpture, textiles, theatre, and more. The V&A East Storehouse isn’t just about storage; it’s about transparency, accessibility, and storytelling. Visitors will step behind the scenes of a working museum, exploring curated displays, engaging with conservation processes, and uncovering stories that connect us to our past and inspire our future.

Designing a Museum of the Future

Leading this architectural marvel are the renowned Diller Scofidio + Renfro, supported locally by Austin-Smith:Lord. The design transforms a former Olympic media centre into a vibrant cultural hub. From the street, visitors descend into a dense corridor of storage racks—an immersive walkway that leads directly into the heart of the museum. The central Weston Collections Hall, a soaring 20-meter-high space, acts as the beating core of the project, where objects are displayed in all directions—literally “inside out”—allowing unprecedented access and visibility.

Our team at ORSA worked closely with these visionary architects, ensuring that the complex engineering, structural, lighting, and technological infrastructure seamlessly supports this innovative layout. Every detail, from the climate control systems safeguarding fragile artefacts to the lighting that highlights intricate details, was meticulously planned to balance preservation with public engagement.

Bringing Collections to Life

The Storehouse is a playground for curiosity. Highlights include Frank Lloyd Wright’s Kaufmann Office, a complete 1930s interior, and a stunning 15th-century gilded ceiling from Spain’s Torrijos Palace—objects that once were hidden away are now on show, accessible to all. The design facilitates “Order an Object,” a revolutionary service allowing visitors to select specific items for close-up viewing, making the experience personalised and educational.

Community, Creativity, and Innovation

But the Storehouse isn’t just about viewing objects. It’s a space for creative collaboration—hosting pop-up displays, workshops, performances, and screenings. The archives, including the David Bowie collection and the Glastonbury Festival archives, open new windows into artistic processes and cultural history. Through partnerships with local communities and creatives, the project amplifies diverse voices, making the museum a living, breathing part of East London’s vibrant cultural scene.

A Landmark for the Future

Set to open on 31 May 2025, the V&A East Storehouse is more than a building; it’s a new model for cultural institutions—an accessible, interactive, and inspiring space that blurs the lines between storage and exhibition, research and public engagement. As Principal Design Advisers, ORSA is thrilled to have contributed to a project that will inspire generations to explore the stories and creativity that shape our world.

Stay tuned as this extraordinary space prepares to open its doors—an innovative chapter in the story of museums and cultural access.

Discover more about this exciting project and the future of cultural spaces at V&A East.