Aberrant Architecture; Digital Print for the 'Great Triffid' proposal, 2010

Architecural design showing an exploded plan of the Henry Cole Wing staircase with the 'Great Triffid' installed.

The gift of Aberrant Architecture, David Chambers and Kevin Haley

Created for the RIBA 'Architects Build Small Spaces' competition.

From January to July 2010, Aberrant Architecture were the artists-in-residence at the V&A.

During their residency, Aberrant Architecture drew on the collections of the V&A and the RIBA for inspiration in an effort to uncover the most successful designs and precedents from the previous three centuries on the subject of ‘work’. The notion of working is their primary area of research. Their view is that in the 21st century, working is becoming more flexible and the space where it occurs more diverse: a dining table is also a desk, a coffee shop is for trade as well as for socialising and a train carriage is now an office. They were particularly keen to examine how cities and communities in the past have supported the needs and desires of workers, in order to help address the condition of working in the 21st Century.

Forgotten Spaces is an annual competition run by the RIBA in collaboration with Design for London. In 2010 its brief was to propose innovative ways of taking advantage of under-utilized sites within the city.
Completed during their residency, this design is Aberrant Architecture’s idea for utilising the ’forgotten space’ of the V&A, namely the grand staircase in the Henry Cole Wing. The scheme turns the grand staircase into a ‘vertical village’ with the ‘stalk’ of the triffid winding upwards and ‘flower pods’ providing spaces for V&A staff to work in.

Completed during their residency, this design is Aberrant Architecture’s idea for utilising the ’forgotten space’ of the V&A, namely the grand staircase in the Henry Cole Wing. The scheme turns the grand staircase into a ‘vertical village’ with the ‘stalk’ of the triffid winding upwards and ‘flower pods’ providing spaces for V&A staff to work in.
The work is heavily inspired by the history of TH Huxleys laboratory experiments with nature and nurture in the space. As well as the working life of the institution; providing the necessities of a modern working environment such as electrical access, private meeting spaces for colleagues, and following health and safety guidelines.

E.625-2015