De Matos Ryan transforms Young V&A
Young V&A has now opened as London’s major new free destination for children, families, and young people after an extensive £13m three-year redevelopment. The redevelopment is the most significant intervention in the Grade II* listed building’s 150-year history and has completely transformed the museum. At the helm of the monumental redevelopment was the acclaimed architectural firm, De Matos Ryan.
De Matos Ryan's role as the base build lead was pivotal in redefining the Young V&A. With a vision and ambition to deliver "the world's most joyful museum", the concept was created through extensive co-design strategies with local community groups. The shared goal was to transform the museum into an exceptional space that sparks the imagination of future generations, encouraging creativity to flourish.
Working collaboratively with the V&A's team, De Matos Ryan led on the building’s Victorian heritage and space planning, improving circulation and introducing new lower ground spaces, while AOC Architecture led the design of the visitor experience, the museum look and feel, and the galleries.
De Matos Ryan’s approach to preserving and enhancing this much loved and unique heritage building, which once stood in South Kensington before being moved in 1872, was to carefully peel back and reveal the building’s original form. Carefully considered, distinctly modern interventions have been introduced to complement the existing architecture.
The remarkable redesign centres around the breath-taking kaleidoscope staircase, conceived through workshops with local schoolchildren and inspired by the museum's collection of optical toys. Complemented by new accessibility measures, visitors are led on a dynamic route through the museum. The firm’s ability to imagine contemporary interventions within historical setting shines as they transform the arrival experience with full-height automatic sliding glazed doors, revealing the building’s original grandeur and mosaic flooring bathed in natural light. Below, the lower ground has been restructured to increase public spaces, accommodating new object handling and staff spaces, flexible studios and clear visibility between floors. Sustainability takes the spotlight with measures to reduce carbon emissions, including energy-efficient systems designed for future green energy integration.
De Matos Ryan's transformative work on the Young V&A exemplifies their trademark combination of heritage preservation and architectural innovation to revive the project whilst safeguarding the heritage asset and its exceptional collections.
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