05/10/2026
Recently, I had such an interesting visit to the V&A East Storehouse.
It’s quite a different experience from visiting a ‘normal’ museum, as this is a working museum, with conservators carrying out their work right in front of you. Spread across three floors, there’s a lot to see and absorb.
As you make your way around the public walkways, you can get incredibly close to the objects, giving you a really unique perspective on the collections.
On Level 3, you can also watch conservators at work in the conservation studio from a glass overlook balcony. It's fascinating to see the level of skill and care that goes into preserving these pieces.
There were two interiors in particular that caught my attention. The first was an office interior designed by architect Frank Lloyd Wright for Kaufmann’s department store which was his only completed interior design, including bespoke furniture.
The second was a 1920's fitted kitchen designed in the Modernist style, which was installed in around 10,000 homes across Frankfurt’s housing projects. It really was an incredible example of compact design with a place for everything. It included a pull-out chopping board, a fold-down ironing board and pull-out boards providing additional workspace and easy-to-clean surfaces. It feels surprisingly relevant even today!
And then there’s Robin Hood Gardens in London. I’m still not quite sure how they managed to install it in the museum, but a section of one of the 1970’s social housing blocks is on display. I’m pictured here in front of one of its distinctive orange front doors, and you can also look into the communal ‘hallways’, complete with their wonderfully retro wallpaper.
If you haven’t been yet, I’d definitely recommend a visit, particularly if you’re interested in design, architecture, interiors or the fascinating stories behind the objects we live with. 👏
