This morning DEVELOP3D was present at the launch of London’s new Design Museum, which is scheduled to open in 2014, and confirm the UK as the creative hub of the world.
Unveiling its plans to be the world’s leading museum of design and architecture, it also promises to be a force in nurturing new British design in its new home – the Commonwealth Institute building – having lain dormant for over a decade it will be undergoing a suitable refurbishment as overseen by British architect John Pawson.
Presenting at the launch was Sir Terence Conran, founder of the original Design Museum located in Shad Thames, on London’s South Bank, in 1989, who gave great emphasis to the importance good design will play in our lives over the coming decades.
He stated that: “[Britain is] thought of as the most creative nation in the world,” and that the creation of a showpiece museum would help the country’s own appreciation of what we are capable of offering.
The New Design Museum from Design Museum on Vimeo.
Conran hopes that the building will do for design in the Capital: “what the Tate Modern did for modern art”.
“Design is vitally important and can greatly improve the quality of people’s lives.”
The new building will provide nearly three times the space of the old, much loved property that formed one of the key parts of the regeneration of London’s South Bank. Its increased capacity should help allow it to expand access to schools and other groups that can benefit from its amazing collections of industrial and graphic design.
Its position in Kensington will also drop it into an area already occupied by cultural heavyweights (and must-see London tourist attractions) such as the V&A, Science Museum, Natural History Museum, Royal College of Art and Serpentine Gallery.
The formal launch was ended with a video message from Jonathan Ive, Apple’s senior vice president of industrial design, giving his wholehearted backing to the plans, before the assembled journalists were whisked around the cold interior of the building for a sense of the scale five-floors of great design will be like once work is completed.
Having the support and frank opinions of at least two of Britain’s most lauded designers in Conran and Ive is surely enough to ensure that the new Design Museum gets all the attention and support that it deserves. We just can’t wait to visit!
