Wallpaper* Design Awards: London’s V&A East Storehouse is Launch of the Year 2026
Designed by Diller Scofidio + Renfro, the V&A family’s latest outpost turns the museum concept on its head, offering a revolutionary peek into the daily life of the institution’s Wunderkammer of a collection
Ever since the V&A East Storehouse opened in May 2025, it has become the centre of our cultural lives. A museum like no other, it was conceived by architects DS+R to house some of the V&A’s vast collection, and has been designed as a series of ‘floating’ floors, with each level featuring a central viewing gallery alongside many more, less accessible but still visible, shelving areas. The rigid formality of more traditional museums was abandoned in favour of a visually overwhelming staging (and we say this in the best possible way).
In September 2025, the V&A doubled down on this mammoth feat with the opening of the David Bowie Centre, where the late artist’s personal collection of costumes, musical instruments and general memorabilia has now found a permanent home (it includes fan-made objects, too, further highlighting the new museum’s ultra-democratic calling).
Browse the Wallpaper* picks from V&A East Storehouse
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‘Versalite’ light, by A B Read, for Troughton and Young, UK, 1948(Image credit: Courtesy V&A)
Sgraffito earthenware fragment, Italy, 15th-16th century
(Image credit: Courtesy V&A)
Embroidered linen bodice, UK, early 18th century
(Image credit: Courtesy V&A)
Carved boxwood comb, France, 16th-17th century
(Image credit: Courtesy V&A)
Tunic fragment, Egypt, possibly 7th-8th century
(Image credit: Courtesy V&A)
Sgraffito earthenware fragment, Italy, 15th-16th century
(Image credit: Courtesy V&A)
Here's how the V&A East Storehouse works: anyone can choose up to five objects they’d like to view up close, request them through the V&A website, and see them in the flesh at a private appointment that can last up to four hours.
So to honour the winner of our Launch of the Year, we decided to go crazy with the archives, each member of our team picking out the five objects they’d be most excited to see. Every item shown above can be ordered for a private appointment: from ancient Egyptian fragments and punk socks to early Japanese tech and modernist designs that we don’t often get to see in the wild. Happy treasure-hunting.
Rosa Bertoli was born in Udine, Italy, and now lives in London. Since 2014, she has been the Design Editor of Wallpaper*, where she oversees design content for the print and online editions, as well as special editorial projects. Through her role at Wallpaper*, she has written extensively about all areas of design. Rosa has been speaker and moderator for various design talks and conferences including London Craft Week, Maison & Objet, The Italian Cultural Institute (London), Clippings, Zaha Hadid Design, Kartell and Frieze Art Fair. Rosa has been on judging panels for the Chart Architecture Award, the Dutch Design Awards and the DesignGuild Marks. She has written for numerous English and Italian language publications, and worked as a content and communication consultant for fashion and design brands.
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