Attending the first exhibition in the new Levete designed exhibition space, I am initially struck by the descent into the gallery. Wooden stairs lead to the unknown – with shiny black lacquered cladding on either side.
Mystery is the best part about this stair well. As you turn the corner you are greeted with an open space with sunlight streaming in from the skylights above.
Outside the courtyard is bright white with its porcelain tiles on a gloomy grey London day. The courtyard whilst interesting to look at does not feel comfortable, warm or inviting. It is an entrance rather than a courtyard in this respect because it doesn’t feel like a place you want to sit and absorb the space around you.
On either side of the courtyard are the futuristic glass and metal sections that form the skylights for the space below.
Even though the space is a combination of ultra modern and old world (the V&A building itself) it works visually but the problem is that from an urban design perspective it doesn’t feel like a usable space.
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