V&A Museum, Blythe House
Creating a clear and identifiable wayfinding system to support visitor navigation
An elegant and materially sympathetic scheme that complements listed interiors while providing clear and direct wayfinding
In 2011, the V&A embarked on the redevelopment of its Blythe House storage facility to create a new Textiles Study and Conservation Centre. The project included upgrading its conservation facilities and establishing study and seminar rooms. The original grand entrance was also reinstated to improve access to the V&A stores and enhance the overall arrival experience. Holmes Wood worked closely with the museum’s teams and architects, Haworth Tompkins, to create a wayfinding scheme that sympathetically raised the profile of Blythe House as a cultural destination. With no museum staff to guide visitors to the Centre’s reception area, a clear and identifiable wayfinding system was essential to allow visitors to self-navigate through the spaces. To this end, we created designs using an elegant materiality and typeface that provide clarity and fully complement the listed building interiors and finishes.
Client: V&A Museum
Architect: Haworth Tompkins