V&A seeks lighting design groups for upcoming projects

The Victoria & Albert Museum is seeking a lighting designer to work on projects over the next five to seven years, which may include the second phase of FuturePlan.

Last month the V&A released a tender to find a lighting consultancy, to be appointed as part of its framework agreement.

This could be the first in a series of tenders to find design consultancies to work on projects including the second phase of the V&A’s £120m renovation scheme FuturePlan. Phase two of FuturePlan is expected to launch after the V&A’s Medieval and Renaissance Galleries open in November next year.

A spokeswoman for the V&A says, ‘Many of our current contracts for lighting design, mechanical and electrical engineering will come to an end within the next year, and we hope to replace or renew contracts in spring 2009.’

She adds that the V&A is currently conducting a feasibility study for phase two of the FuturePlan programme.

DHA Design, which is working on the lighting for the Medieval and Renaissance Galleries, says it hopes to work on the second phase of FuturePlan, which is expected to take in the Modern Design Gallery, Study Collections and Learning, as well as much of the Asia Galleries section.

‘Each gallery has its own feel – there is no house style,’ says DHA partner Jonathan Howard of his practice’s concepts for the Medieval and Renaissance Galleries.

‘The older perimeter galleries are traditionally lit, the central space uses natural light, and we have lit the darker, more enclosed structure like a chapel.’





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