reade signs
Project Name: Wayfinding signage at one of the world’s leading museums of art and design, the V & A
Client: V&A Museum
Sector: Museums
Location: London (UK)
Role: The V&A is the world’s leading museum of art and design, with a permanent collection of over 2.3 million objects. Reade Signs won a competitive tender to supply the signage for the entire wayfinding scheme throughout this iconic building.
The Brief: Working in collaboration with dn&co and allpointswest, Reade Signs manufactured and installed 400 directional signs. The new system guides visitors through the V&A’s 145 galleries, inviting them to explore the lesser-known parts of the museum collection. When the Victoria and Albert Museum was founded in 1852, the buildings were intended to represent the best of contemporary architecture and design. Victorian parts of the building have a complex history, with additions made by different architects over the years. The signage and fixings had to be created with delicate wall and ceiling materials in mind.
Outcome: Reade Signs manufactured and installed over 400 directional signs made from Valchromat – a type of MDF. This material was selected because it’s uniquely dyed all the way through and cuts very well. The edges of all the sign panels were chamfered and this material gives a crisp cut. The signs were then faced with beautiful tulip wood veneers, which were dyed black. Pinkish yellowish in colour, tulip wood is very light but also very strong. This makes it a perfect choice for quality signage that will stand the test of time.
The hanging signs had to be very light, due to the physical constraints of the building, so another unique material called Banova plywood was used. This material is made from sheets of laminated balsa wood and is very strong and unbelievably light. These signs were also faced with dyed tulip wood veneer.
Taking the fabric of the building into account, multiple bespoke fixings were designed that both protected the listed building and made it safe for visitors.
The finished signs look fantastic and help visitors to make the most of their experience of this iconic and beautiful museum
Case Study Submitted By Reade Signs, David Gerrard, Sales Director, Reade Signs (davidg@readesigns.com).
