Since 1989, the Design Museum London has celebrated architecture and design in all its forms. Last month, the Design Museum opened the doors to its brand new building in Kensington, and in its first week attracted 25,000 visitors.
The new site is a Grade II* listed building, which was transformed by leading architectural designer John Pawson. The design team have created a museum space that can host a variety of exhibitions celebrating design and innovation. A temporary photographic exhibition on the museum's mezzanine level documents the transformation of the 1962 building into its current form.
The museum’s permanent display collection Designer Maker User, is an interactive exploration of modern design. With hundreds of items on display, the exhibition encourages visitors to reflect on the objects and technologies they use in their everyday lives, and discover the processes that led to their existence. From fashion to computer games, to modern furniture and kitchen designs, the Designer Maker User exhibition sparks everyone’s curiosity.
A visit to the Design Museum is a journey through modern life.
Two temporary exhibitions are also hosted by the museum in its basement and ground-floor spaces. Fear and Love: Reactions to a complex world is an exhibition of design work delving into modern social issues. The exhibition features 11 works from innovative designers who have examined cultural phenomena such as networked sexuality, sentient robots, food staples and animal vs artificial intelligent. This thought-provoking exhibition is open until April 23, 2017.
The museum’s basement space houses the Beazley Design of the Year exhibition. This annual celebration of designs for the future features a host of new ideas that have the potential to change the world. From sustainable fashion brands to technologies that improve safety or communications for refugees, the designs in this exhibition paint a picture of a better future. This truly inspirational exhibition will be open until February 19, 2017.
The museum is also home to a ground-floor cafe and the Parabola Bar and Restaurant – a beautiful informal dining restaurant on the top floor of the museum. The restaurant is surrounded by windows overlooking Holland Park, which makes for a relaxing dining experience. There is also a special lounge for visitors who decide to join the museum’s membership group.
A visit to the Design Museum is a journey through modern life, from the perspective of the designers whose visions shaped our world. Entry to the museum and permanent collections is free, although temporary exhibitions are ticketed. The new building also houses a library, learning spaces, an auditorium and an additional event space.
