please empty your brain below
I visited several times in its Commonwealth days as I knew someone who worked there.
Nice to know that the building is back in use and open to the public.
Thanks for your detailed review.
Still don't like that it's a Design 'Museum', feels like the wrong word, a good design is always just that, regardless of era.
Of course the move has also enabled many more facilities, but whilst all the additional meeting rooms etc are given pride of place the collection is I felt grudgingly accommodated.
Overall I thought the building was was screaming 'look at me'. I might not have minded so much if there was more of the original Commonwealth building on show but the Corran stripped back look is getting a little dated now.
But definitely go and look for yourself. Either way it's worth it.
[Googles]
Wow, I never thought I'd be seeing that kite again. (Apparently from Malaysia, not Indonesia)
As well as the flags I remember a stuffed giraffe that I think was positioned so that you saw it at two levels and could stare at it face to face despite its height which was obviously enormous to a child.
In later years a giant buddah resided alongside the flags.
Having not been to the building when it was the Commonwealth Institute, I didn't get to see what I was missing - the roof was impressive enough from the outside but I did feel that I was probably missing the grandest view from the outside. Having had a look at Malcolm's photos, it seems it's lost its Bond Villan Lair aesthetic.
Oh, and the Designs of the Year had quite a few interesting things on display - somewhat ironically the worst designed thing in the room was the electronic voting booth at the end. I'm still not quite sure if I successfully cast my vote.
here are my photos, if anyone's interested.
Sadly it closed in 1998.
I'll have to visit the Design Museum and see how it compares. But the name seems a bit odd, it doesn't lend itself to any form of endorsement for modern products.
Like you I was underwhelmed by the previous incarnation - I once visited for free as I was working with an exhibition sponsor but came away with the feeling that if I had paid for the main exhibition I would want my money back...
@dan, as I understand it the building in Shad Thames was acquired by the Zaha Hadid Foundation before the architect's recent death. Future plans to be determined as far as I am aware.
I've got to admit I was never really taken with the contents of the old Design Museum, but (always a sucker for pretty lights) I did take better liking to the building after passing it one night and seeing it like this.
I'm pretty sure it was still the DM when I took that: they still had the 'display cabinet' outside and in it was a Renault concept car
Perhaps the former site will be turned into 'designer' apartments?
Browsing through the exhibits Friday (which was much too crowded) missing was a Sony Walkman cassette player with the button you pushed up to play, and pulled down to stop... and left or right to f/forward/rewind.
A classic missing design faux pas.
The phones and typewriters hit the spot for me.
Will return once it has quietened down, but agree with DG that the extra stuff is poor value for money.
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