IDK

'I always thought I was intellectual about what I do, but I've come to the realisation that I have absolutely no idea what I'm doing half the time.' David Bowie.
Design of the permanent, public home of the David Bowie Archive as part of the V&A East Storehouse site. Bowie was passionate about art and culture within his own artistic sphere, as well as beyond it. His explorations spanned diverse creative practices, global cultures and histories. Working closely with the V&A teams, IDK's collective ambition is to celebrate Bowie's life and artistry, share his archive as widely as possible, and stimulate new thinking about his legacy and influence in the context of twentieth-century and contemporary culture.

This dedicated centre for the V&A gives unprecedented public access to the entire David Bowie archive and will cultivate new research stemming from Bowie’s own interests and visionary artistic practice. Part-permanent, part-rotating exhibition – with displays, a study centre, a learning zone, and a research library – the brief combines the many aspects of his creative practice into a multi-faceted space that is open and inclusive to all. The archive itself houses a collection of multimedia material that spans decades of creative exploration and reinvention, as Bowie sought different ways to relate to an ever-changing world. Building on this, audience-centred immersive responses will actively engage visitors, connecting them through the inclusive and enduring messages of Bowie’s legacy.


Project: The David Bowie Centre
Location: London, V&A Storehouse
Year: 2023-Ongoing
Type: Museum & Culture
Surface: 300m2
Services: Lead Designer, 3D Design, CDM Principal Designer
Collaborators: Structure Workshop, Studio ZNA, P3R, Fieldwork Facility, Pulse