Development of the V&A café, 2006
In November 2006 a new suite of galleries known as the garden rooms opened alongside the original museum refreshment room. These spaces house serveries offering hot meals, sandwiches, cakes and a delicatessen. There is also a bar and informal seating areas.
The period rooms remain largely untouched although access and views into the highly decorated spaces is improved as the original and much wider entrances have been re-opened. Visitors, coming to the new café have the choice of either sitting in the more informal spaces of the garden rooms or the more formal and opulent surroundings of the period rooms.
Designer
The V&A appointed MUMA (McInnes Usher McKnight Architects), a young architectural practice, as café designers. MUMA worked with Benugo, the caterers and specialist consultants to create a café that is exciting, accessible and relaxing for all visitors.
This development was completed as part of FuturePlan
FuturePlan is transforming the V&A by revitalising visitor facilities and redisplaying the collections. Using the best architects and designers, we are bringing the V&A into the 21st century and restoring modern design and innovation to the heart of the museum.
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If you love the V&A, it is easy to get involved by donating online. Your support helps us to build and refurbish galleries, curate world-class exhibitions, improve facilities, conserve and study the collection, buy objects and develop our learning programme.
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Event - Mary Quant: The Best of British Design
Fri 16 March 2012 19:00
EVENING TALK: Join fashion legend Mary Quant in a discussion of her extraordinary life and career. The creator of the mini skirt, hot pants, sweater dresses and brightly coloured stockings, Quant was a key figure in the development of Swinging London.
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