V&A Museum London Hub for Creativity

A New Cultural Landmark in Stratford

The V&A East Museum will open on April 18, 2026, at East Bank in Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park, London. Gus Casely-Hayford, V&A East Director, describes it as a welcoming space designed with the community in mind, reflecting the multicultural character of east London and celebrating creativity.

The museum aims to bring people together, spark conversations, and show how artists and makers are using their work to effect positive change. Casely-Hayford notes visitors should feel joy and a sense of belonging from the moment they enter.

Architectural Vision and Design

The 6,420-square-metre building was designed by O’Donnell + Tuomey, a Dublin and London-based architecture firm. It combines contemporary architectural design with community-focused spaces. The exterior, inspired by Cristóbal Balenciaga’s concept of “Ma,” creates a sculptural, folded appearance that changes with the viewer’s perspective.

An interior rendering of the V&A East Storehouse, showing multi-level galleries with thousands of historical items from the V&A archive on public display — A look inside the V&A East Storehouse, a sister site to the museum, where visitors can explore the vast V&A collection across accessible, layered displays. (Image courtesy of Diller Scofidio + Renfro)

The building uses a variety of building materials including glass and steel to create dynamic façades. Its design emphasizes openness, natural light, and flexibility for both exhibitions and events.

Galleries and Exhibitions

The museum features two permanent galleries, including “Why We Make,” highlighting global cultures and diverse creative voices. Works by contemporary artists such as Yinka Ilori and VIN + OMI are displayed alongside historical items from the V&A archive.

Flexible gallery spaces will host temporary exhibitions and design competitions. Visitors can also engage in community-led projects and creative collaborations in dedicated spaces.

Public and Community Spaces

V&A East includes two public entrances at the podium and Waterfront Square, along with a café and roof terrace offering views over the park. The museum links residential areas with Stratford Waterfront, enhancing the local infrastructure and public realm.

The intricate, sculptural detailing on the facade of the V&A East Museum, with the iconic V&A logo crowning the structure. (Image © Victoria and Albert Museum, London)

Interior spaces prioritize accessibility, flexible layouts, and interior design that encourages exploration and social interaction.

Casely-Hayford emphasizes the museum’s role in addressing social and environmental challenges. Through creativity, it aims to unite communities and highlight innovative approaches to sustainability and cultural dialogue.

V&A East joins the V&A East Storehouse as a free cultural attraction, supporting the creative legacy of east London. Its design and programming reflect the area’s diverse heritage and aim to inspire both local visitors and international audiences.

The museum exemplifies how thoughtful urban planning and construction practices can create public spaces that serve culture, community, and creativity together.

A waterfront view of the new museum in Stratford, showing its relationship with the surrounding urban infrastructure and public square — This rendering shows the V&A East Museum from across the water, emphasizing its integration into the Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park and its role as a key cultural destination. (Image courtesy of O’Donnell + Tuomey / Ninety9)

✦ ArchUp Editorial Insight

East London’s V&A East Museum emerges as the logical outcome of multiple intersecting systemic pressures. The repeated human behavior of seeking communal cultural experiences drives programming decisions, while institutional frameworks approvals, funding cycles, and risk-averse operational policies channel investment toward flexible, multi-use spaces. Economic pressures prioritize CAPEX efficiency, predictable ROI, and phased opening strategies, limiting radical experimentation. Cultural anxieties about inclusivity, identity, and representation manifest in curated collections and spatial accessibility, while technical tools such as advanced visualization, BIM, and prefabrication shape both construction sequencing and modular spatial organization.

The museum’s form and spatial articulation, from central galleries to public terraces, reflect the alignment of these pressures rather than aesthetic intent. Its architectural outcome the volumetric arrangement, circulation hierarchy, and facade articulation is a symptom of consistent behaviors, decision hierarchies, and technological affordances layered across the project lifecycle.