V&A Photography Centre

A snapshot of heritage and innovation

Introduction

We completed the second and final phase of the V&A Photography Centre. As architect and lead consultant, heritage consultant, and principal designers, we embraced this opportunity to return these V&A back-of-house areas to their former glory as beautiful gallery spaces to be enjoyed by the public.

The result is the UK’s largest permanent space dedicated to photography. This suite of five galleries reimagines the museum’s historic west wing as a destination for contemporary photographic display, learning and interaction.

'The building is a high-profile cultural landmark, and it is wonderful to see these significant spaces upgraded and modernised to give the museum renewed relevance and increased capacity to showcase the breadth of the Photography Centre’s collection.'

– Liz Smith, Chairman, Purcell

An informed restoration

Originally designed by Captain Francis Fowke in the 1860s, the west wing spaces had been subject to decades of ad hoc use and alteration. As a starting point, we undertook a detailed analysis of the historic fabric to identify opportunities for repair and reuse.

This informed a set of sensitive initiatives that included roof-level works, new building services, structural upgrades, and extensive restoration of period features – from cast-iron columns and timber floors to plasterwork, masonry and decorative joinery. All additions were designed to be discreet, flexible and reversible where possible.

The newly expanded centre brings together heritage and innovation to stimulate public engagement across four new and one reconfigured gallery spaces, now totalling 570m². Set within some of the oldest parts of the V&A’s estate, the project transforms former storage and teaching areas into state-of-the-art public rooms, while reinstating their original Grade I-listed Victorian grandeur.

Enhancing infrastructure and sustainability

We led the base-build works: our vision introduced a major cost saving. The original brief proposed a whole new roof storey to house mechanical, electrical, and plumbing (MEP) systems. Instead, we designed an alternative solution that positions MEP externally with an acoustic/visual screen. This not only improved efficiency – it also saved millions of pounds that we could reallocate to conservation and the interior fit-out.

The new base plant, improved servicing, and added roof capacity ensure the spaces now meet museum-standard environmental controls and accessibility. These enhancements provide a foundation not only for the current display but for long-term curatorial ambitions and visitor needs.

Internally, modern infrastructure was carefully concealed within the existing fabric, preserving ceiling heights and spatial proportions. The seamless nature of these upgrades allows visitors to experience the galleries as both historically resonant and fit for contemporary use.

Designing for experience and inclusivity

Visitors begin their journey through the new centre in the Digital Gallery, an immersive space for projection and media. This leads into a new dedicated space for the Royal Photographic Society library, a double-height reading room lined with rare books, framed by a mezzanine that appears to float within the space.

The cantilevered gallery walkway and bespoke brass balustrades echo the museum’s own ironwork collection, while walnut burr panelling references the V&A’s National Art Library. These design elements, conceived by Gibson Thornley Architects, were made possible through Purcell’s structural and conservation coordination.

A series of expansive galleries follows, each with its own curatorial focus. Sweeping parquet floors, carefully considered lighting, and sequences of historic arches create a sense of movement and discovery, enabling exhibitions to unfold dynamically and in harmony with their architectural setting.

A key intervention was the replacement of the lead-lined roof lights over the gallery spaces to improve thermal performance and incorporate the necessary ventilation.

Collaboration at every stage

Co-designed with a group of 16 to 24-year-olds, the centre was shaped with inclusion and access at its core. One of the most distinctive elements is the Camera Gallery, an interactive space featuring a walk-in camera obscura, developed with British artist Richard Learoyd.

The brief for this gallery, and for the wider centre, was refined through active collaboration between Gibson Thornley, V&A curators and our own specialist teams, bringing together creative insights, technical expertise and heritage understanding to deliver a cohesive, future-ready result.

'This was a once-in-a-generation opportunity to return these spaces to public use. Our role was to ensure the architectural fabric could support this transformation, both practically and with care for the museum’s legacy.'

– Elizabeth Smith, Chairman, Purcell

A significant contribution to the V&A’s FuturePlan

The Photography Centre is part of the V&A’s long-running FuturePlan initiative, a museum-wide programme of transformation that renews historic spaces for modern audiences.

Our role in this project exemplifies Purcell’s wider approach: combining rigorous conservation with intelligent adaptation, enabling ambitious curatorial outcomes while enhancing the architectural and cultural value of heritage buildings.

Details

Client The V&A
Team London Studio
Location London
Country United Kingdom
Listing Status Grade I
Photography Gibson Thornley; Thomas Adank

Awards

AJ Retrofit: Conservation and Historic Shortlisted 2024
World Architecture Festival: Best Public Building Interior Won 2023