V&A to reopen Fashion Gallery following refurbishment
The Victoria & Albert Museum is set to reopen its Fashion Gallery next month following 18 months of refurbishment work.
The renovation work has been carried out by 6a Architects as part of the V&A’s ongoing Futureplan refurbishment programme.
The Fashion Gallery, Gallery 40, was originally opened in 1909 as part of architect Aston Webb’s expansion of the museum.
The refurbishment work has involved restoring the gallery’s original features, which include a domed court, architectural columns and mosaic flooring.
A new lighting scheme is also being introduced and a mezzanine gallery is being reclaimed as gallery space for fashion and textiles, adding more than 400m2 of display space.
The V&A says, ‘The refurbishment will reveal and restore the gallery’s original architecture to provide a sense of grandeur, ambience and light.
‘It will allow a new, multi-faceted approach to the display, which will incorporate underwear, accessories, textiles, lace, fans, scarves and jewellery.’
The gallery is set to reopen on 19 May with the exhibition Ballgowns: British Glamour Since 1950.
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how wonderful, can’t wait! A very fitting opening exhibtion theme too.