V&A East Storehouse
At this museum, you can actually touch the exhibits, not just see them.
A groundbreaking cultural space opened its doors on May 31 in East London.
The V&A East Storehouse, an ambitious expansion of the renowned Victoria & Albert Museum, promises to redefine how the public interacts with museums by offering access to a vast portion of the collection that was previously hidden away in storage. It provides a unique museum experience: immediate access and the chance to physically engage with objects of immense historical and cultural value.
A Treasure Trove of Over 250,000 Artifacts
The Storehouse East houses more than 250,000 historical and artistic objects spread over four floors, three of which are open to visitors. From Roman frescoes and 14th-century paintings to everyday items and haute couture pieces from fashion houses like Schiaparelli, Balenciaga, Vivienne Westwood, and Comme des Garçons, this new venue feels less like a traditional museum and more like a vast artistic treasure chest — a “cabinet of curiosities” brought to life.
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Touching the Past: A Revolutionary Museum Experience
What’s most striking is that visitors aren’t limited to just looking. In the specially designed Research Centre at the Storehouse, guests can—by booking online—handle authentic objects under the supervision of expert conservators. The online booking platform opened on May 13 and has already received hundreds of requests—from passionate history buffs to brides-to-be seeking inspiration for their wedding dresses. One of the most sought-after items is a 1954 fuchsia Balenciaga gown made of silk taffeta.
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But as Kate Parsons, Head of Conservation at the V&A, assures, all objects available for touch have been carefully selected for their durability. The environment adheres to strict temperature (16–25°C) and humidity (40–60%) standards, in line with international museum regulations. Objects are secured using specialized techniques that ensure both safety and accessibility.
A Building Designed to Feel Alive and Open
Designed by the award-winning studio Diller Scofidio + Renfro, the building fosters the feeling of a living, open museum. Inside, metal shelving units rising up to 20 meters high hold all kinds of objects, allowing visitors to look in every direction—from the top floor to the ground level—creating a free-exploration experience without guided tours or thematic restrictions. Items are displayed without strict chronological or thematic order, preserving an element of surprise and diversity, inspired by how private collections were shown in the 16th century.
Giving Voice to the Hidden 97% of Museum Collections
As Elizabeth Diller, founding partner of the studio, pointed out, “Usually only 3% of a museum’s collections are on display to the public. The remaining 97% stay hidden in basements and storerooms. The Storehouse gives a voice to this unseen material.”
