Issue 39 Sept 23 - Journal - Page 69
The new rooflights illuminate the Main Hall and its more
open, exciting and immersive galleries. No longer a dark
and cold place, the museum is soon to open as a refreshed
free-to-access collection to inspire its young visitors.
The National Art Library
The National Art Library houses some of the most
priceless books on the planet. Its historic and elegant
reading rooms are a jewel of the V&A and home to an
unrivalled collection of literature on decorative and fine
arts. Its glass roof, installed in 1881, was designed to bring
as much natural light as possible to the readers below. It
now has a beautiful, thermally efficient glazed roof and
casement windows.
This cast iron building was originally erected on the
site of the main V&A Museum and nicknamed the
‘Brompton Boilers’. After 10 years it was dismantled,
moved east to Bethnal Green, re-erected, clad in brick
and opened in 1872 as the Bethnal Green Museum. Over
the last 150 years the museum has consistently evolved in its name, contents and design. It’s now restored and
equipped for a sustainable future role as part of London’s
unique heritage landscape.
The Young V&A, Bethnal Green
As part of the V&A’s renovation and reimagining of
the Museum of Childhood in Bethnal Green, Roofglaze
reinstated functioning rooflights to its barrel-vaulted roofs.
The original roof trusses and cladding profile are now
revealed and appreciated.
The Young V&A Museum is scheduled to re-open to the
public in summer 2023.
Above, the Young V&A Museum, Bethnal Green
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Conservation & Heritage Journal
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