The Design Museum has sold its current home at Shad Thames to Zaha Hadid Architects.
The sale is the next step in the Design Museum’s journey to relocate to the former Commonwealth Institute building in Kensington High Street, west London, which is planned to open in late 2015. The Design Museum’s lease at Shad Thames belongs to the Conran Foundation who also paid for the museum’s original design and construction. The Conran Foundation will give the proceeds from the sale towards the construction of the new museum.
The Design Museum has been in the current building since 1989 and will continue its extensive programme of exhibitions until the new museum opens. Under the terms of the sale agreement the Design Museum will continue to operate at Shad Thames until 2015.
The move will give the Design Museum three times more space to show a wide range of exhibitions and showcase its collection.
Deyan Sudjic, Director of the Design Museum, comments ‘Whilst we are sad to be leaving Shad Thames we are leaving the building in the best possible hands, the sale is a significant moment in the museum’s relocation plans and a substantial contribution towards our new home.’
Zaha Hadid adds ‘This important acquisition of the Shad Thames site will preserve its significance and we look forward to the future use and occupation of the building.’
The Design Museum at Shad Thames was sold with the support of Cushman & Wakefield and Hogan Lovells International LLP.