London Design Museum's £83M Relocation and Record Attendance
The London Design Museum moved to the Commonwealth Institute on November 24, 2016, following an investment of £83 million. The new facility, covering 10,000 square meters and designed by John Pawson, features exhibition galleries, a 210-seat auditorium, a library, a restaurant, and educational spaces. While the museum aimed for 650,000 visitors in its first year, it welcomed nearly 780,000 in 2017 and showcased 17 exhibitions, such as Fear and Love and California: Designing Freedom. With free admission, it now boasts a permanent collection and has drawn around 900,000 visitors, fostering community involvement. The first exhibition focused on climate change and social injustice, while Hope to Nope: Graphics and Politics 2008-2018 debuted on March 28, 2018.
Key facts
- London Design Museum moved to Commonwealth Institute on November 24, 2016.
- Investment of £83 million in a large-scale real estate operation.
- John Pawson designed the 10,000 sqm space under a paraboloid roof.
- Facilities include temporary galleries, 210-seat auditorium, library, restaurant, learning spaces.
- 2017 attendance: nearly 780,000 visitors (initial estimate 650,000).
- 17 exhibitions in 2017, including Fear and Love, Imagine Moscow, California: Designing Freedom, Breathing Colour, Beazley Designs of the Year 2017, Ferrari: Under the Skin.
- Permanent collection now on display with free admission.
- Fear and Love featured 10 architects/designers addressing climate change, social injustice, data privacy.
- Director Deyan Sudjic emphasized restoring value to design and architecture.
- Hope to Nope: Graphics and Politics 2008-2018 opened March 28, 2018.
Entities
Artists
- Hella Jongerius
- Deyan Sudjic
- John Pawson
- Ginevra Bria
Institutions
- London Design Museum
- Commonwealth Institute
- Artribune
- Isisuf – Istituto Internazionale di Studi sul Futurismo di Milano
Locations
- London
- United Kingdom