London’s iconic Design Museum is set to open its doors at its new home in the Commonwealth Institute in Kensington High Street on 24 November 2016, almost two years later than originally planned.
Willmott Dixon Interiors is working on the £20m fit-out contract that will see the Grade II-listed building converted into a major visitor attraction dedicated to contemporary design and architecture.
Studio Myerscough is designing the permanent display areas, while the museum’s visual identity has been overhauled by Fernando Gutiérrez Studio. Lighting is being devised by Concord and Cartlidge Levene is creating the signage system.
Developer Chelsfield and the Ilchester Estate donated the Commonwealth Institute building and land to the Design Museum, together with the cost of refurbishing the shell and core of the building, a contract carried out by Mace.
Further funding of £4.9m has been provided by The Heritage Lottery Fund, while Arts Council England supported the project with a grant of £3m.
The Willmott Dixon Interiors team outside the new Design Museum in Kensington
Speaking at a press conference, museum director Deyan Sudjic said: “We need to do something like what Tate Modern did for contemporary art for design in this country.”
The project had originally been announced in 2012 and planned for completion by 2014. However, a number of architectural complications caused the project to be delayed by several years.
Willmott Dixon Interiors is creating galleries to accommodate one permanent and two temporary exhibition areas, as well as modern learning spaces, a library, auditorium, office areas and restaurant.
Willmott Dixon Interiors chief operating officer Mike Hart said: “We are very proud to be delivering this last, important stage of the museum’s long-term plan for a bigger home, especially as we have a long track-record restoring listed buildings into modern spaces fit for the 21st century. We will be using our experience to deliver an exceptional home that will showcase our rich cultural heritage.”
